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THE   BOY  ARTHUR  AND  THE   LADY  OF  THE  LAKE 


LEGENDS  OF  KING  ARTHUR 
AND  His  COURT 

BY 
FRANCES   NIMMO   GREENE 


ILLUSTRATED    WITH  ORIGINAL   DRAWINGS 

BY 
EDMUND    H.  GARRETT 


GINN  &  COMPANY 

BOSTON  •  NEW  YORK  •  CHICAGO  •  LONDON 


ENTERED  AT  STATIONERS'  HALL 

COPYRIGHT,  1901 
BY  FRANCES  NIMMO  GREENE 

ALL   RIGHTS   RESERVED 


GINN   &   COMPANY  •  PRO- 
PRIETORS .  BOSTON  •  U.S.A. 


&fferttonatelp 

TO 

(Ruffenc  letoert  Proton 

AND 

Ric&arfc  Clarfce  Joster 


285593 


PREFACE 

THESE  stories  of  King  Arthur  are  re- told 
in  tlie  faith  that  chivalry  in  its  highest  sense 
is  not  dead  among  us ;  and  that  as  long  as 
Christian  manhood  survives,  so  long  will  the 
chivalric  instinct  be  an  important  factor  in  it. 

After  a  study  of  the  many  different  ver- 
sions of  the  legends,  the  author  decided  to  fol- 
low that  of  Tennyson.  Tlie  poet  strips  the 
stories  of  the  barbarities  found  in  the  earlier 
writings  on  the  subject,  and  brings  to  them  the 
nobility  of  his  own  ideals.  Sidney  Lanier 
says :  "  We  might  fairly  trace  the  growth  of 
English  civilization  by  comparing  with  the 
earliest  conceptions  of  King  Arthur  the  latest 
ideal  of  him  in  our  literature  given  us  by  our 
own  great  master  Tennyson? 


Vll 


Preface 

In  the  reproduction  of  the  stories,  the  words 
put  in  the  mouths  of  the  characters  are, 
almost  without  exception,  taken  verbatim  from 
the  poet.  If  the  author  has  succeeded  in 
imbuing  these  pages  with  aught  of  the  spirit 
of  ideal  knightliness,  the  inspiration  also  is 
due  to  the  same  great  master. 

FRANCES  NIMMO  GREENE. 

MONTGOMERY,  ALA. 
August, 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  COMING  OF  ARTHUR i 

THE  MARRIAGE  OF  ARTHUR  AND  GUINEVERE  .     .  9 

GARETH  AND  LYNETTE.     PART  I 19 

GARETH  AND  LYNETTE.     PART  II 33 

LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE.     PART  I 44 

LAUNCELOT  AND  ELAINE.     PART  II 59 

THE  HOLY  GRAIL 75 

GUINEVERE 103 

THE  PASSING  OF  ARTHUR  .  in 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


THE  BOY  ARTHUR  AND  THE  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE.      Frontispiece 

PAGE 

GUINEVERE  SEES  ARTHUR  BY  THE  CASTLE  WALL     .    .  10 

LYNETTE  AND  ARTHUR 28 

GARETH  PITCHES  HESPERUS  OVER  THE  BRIDGE     ...  38 

ELAINE  AND  LAUNCELOT'S  SHIELD 52 

THE  TOURNAMENT  IN  THE  MEADOW  BY  CAMELOT    .    .  56 

THE  NUN  AND  GALAHAD 80 

LAUNCELOT  BEHOLDS  THE  TOWERS  OF  CASTLE  CARBONEK  90 

GALAHAD  RIDES  OUT  OF  CAMELOT 96 

"THREE  ANGELS  BEAR  THE  HOLY  GRAIL" 100 

GUINEVERE  TAKES  REFUGE  IN  A  CONVENT 106 

SIR  BEDIVERE  THROWS  EXCALIBUR  INTO  THE  MERE  122 


INTRODUCTORY 

FEUDALISM  AND  CHIVALRY 

DURING  that  period  of  the  world's  history 
known  as  the  "  Middle  Ages,"  there  existed 
in  most  of  the  nations  of  Europe  a  peculiar 
form  of  society  called  "  Feudalism." 

This  system  was  distinguished  by  the 
great  power  exercised  by  the  nobles:  each 
lord  or  baron  was  like  a  petty  king,  owning 
great  tracts  of  land  and  ruling  all  the  people 
who  dwelt  thereon.  Those  who  lived  on 
the  lands  of  a  baron  were  called  his  "vas- 
sals "  or  "  liegemen,"  and  they  were  under 
oath  to  obey  their  liege  lord  in  time  of 
peace,  and  to  follow  him  in  time  of  war. 
Thus  a  baron,  when  he  chose  to  fight,  could 
summon  his  vassals  round  him  and  go  out 
to  battle  leading  a  small  army  all  his  own. 
xiii 


Introductory 


As  the  vassals  swore  allegiance  to  their 
lords,  so  the  lords  in  turn  swore  allegiance 
to  the  king;  and  they  were  under  oath  to 
assemble  their  liegemen  and  go  to  the  aid 
of  the  king  whenever  he  was  attacked  by 
an  enemy,  or  whenever  he  himself  chose  to 
begin  a  war. 

It  was  a  common  occurrence  during  feudal 
times  for  one  baron  to  make  war  on  another 
in  the  same  kingdom ;  and  it  was  sometimes 
the  case  that  a  faithless  lord  would  take  up 
arms  against  even  the  king  himself. 

Now  these  powerful  nobles  built  great  cas- 
tles of  stone  and  fortified  them  so  strongly 
that  they  were  all  but  impregnable.  They 
were  usually  built  on  high,  steep  places,  and 
were  surrounded  by  massive  walls  with  open- 
ings protected  by  heavy  iron  gates.  As  a 
further  means  of  protection,  wide  ditches 
or  "  moats  "  were  sometimes  dug  around  the 
outer  walls,  and  flooded  with  water.  There 
were  drawbridges  held  up  against  the  walls 
xiv 


Introductory 


by  chains,  and  these  could  be  lowered  to 
give  passage  across  the  moat.  When  any 
one  desired  admission  to  one  of  these  strong- 
holds, he  would  "wind"  or  blow  his  horn  at 
the  gate;  the  watchman  in  the  tower  that 
crowned  the  wall  would  survey  the  new- 
comer critically,  and  send  an  account  of  him 
to  the  lord  of  the  castle,  who  decided  whether 
or  not  the  stranger  should  be  admitted. 

These  were  the  times  also  in  which  men 
encased  themselves  and  their  horses  in 
armor,  and  fought  hand-to-hand  with  jspears 
and  swords  and  battleaxes. 

Although  a  bad  system  in  many  respects, 
feudalism  had  its  place  in  the  advancement 
of  civilization ;  for  out  of  it  sprang  "  Chiv- 
alry," that  influence  which,  next  to  Chris- 
tianity, has  been  the  greatest  factor  in  the 
development  of  true  manhood. 

Chivalry  as  an  institution  meant  a  cer- 
tain system  of  knighthood.  As  a  sentiment 
— or  better  still,  an  inspiration  —  it  means  a 

XV 


Introductory 


consecrated  devotion  to  honor,  courtesy, 
valor,  gentleness,  gallantry. 

One  of  the  principal  features  of  Chivalry 
was  the  great  honor  and  conspicuous  gal- 
lantry accorded  the  female  sex.  The  histo- 
rian Hallam  says  that  "  the  love  of  God  and 
the  ladies  was  enjoined  as  a  single  duty  "  on 
the  aspirant  to  knighthood. 

Customs  of  society  generally  spring  from 
rational  foundations,  and  the  deference  paid 
to  women  must  surely  have  had  its  origin 
in  the  awakening  of  man  to  the  fact  that 
it  is  the  part  of  the  strong  and  valiant  to 
protect,  rather  than  to  oppress,  the  weak. 

THE  TRAINING  OF  A  KNIGHT 

The  first  step  towards  knighthood  was 
taken  when  the  boy  became  a  "  page."  From 
the  age  of  seven  to  the  age  of  fourteen  the 
youths  of  a  noble  family  were  taught  the 
etiquette  of  chivalry  and  the  use  of  light 
xvi 


Introductory 


arms.  They  were  constantly  thrown  in  the 
company  of  ladies  that  they  might  early 
learn  gentleness  and  courtesy. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  the  youth  was  made 
a  "  squire,"  and  entered  upon  more  serious 
duties.  He  became  the  attendant  of  some 
knight,  whom  it  was  his  duty  and  pleasure 
to  follow  into  many  a  thrilling  adventure. 
It  was  also  a  part  of  the  squire's  service  to 
attend  to  his  master's  weapons  and  armor, 
and  to  ride  with  him  to  battle  or  tournament. 
When  in  battle,  it  was  his  duty  to  keep  near 
his  lord  to  render  whatsoever  aid  he  could. 
Sometimes  it  was  his  good  fortune  to  dash 
in  at  a  crisis  and  win  distinction  for  himself. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  the  young  squire 
reached  the  goal  of  his  ambition  and  became 
a  "  knight." 

The  act  of  conferring  knighthood  was  very 
important,  and  was  generally  attended  with 
impressive  ceremonies.  The  young  candi- 
date had  first  to  fast  and  confess  his  sins, 
xvii 


Introductory 


after  which  he  spent  a  night  in  prayer.  The 
next  morning,  after  bathing  himself  as  a  sign 
of  purification,  and  donning  costly  robes,  he 
was  escorted  to  church,  where  he  was  exam- 
ined, that  it  might  be  seen  if  he  were  worthy 
to  receive  the  degree.  If  he  was  adjudged 
worthy  of  ennoblement,  he  was  allowed  to 
partake  of  the  sacrament  and  to  take  the 
vows  of  knighthood  —  the  vow  that  he  would 
be  "  a  good,  brave,  loyal,  just,  generous,  and 
gentle  knight ;  that  he  would  be  a  champion 
of  the  church  and  clergy;  that  he  would 
be  a  protector  of  ladies ;  that  he  would  be  a  re- 
dresser  of  the  wrongs  of  widows  and  orphans." 

Then  a  belt  of  white  and  gold  was  clasped 
about  him,  and  the  golden  spurs  of  knight- 
hood were  fastened  on  his  heels.  After 
which,  the  king  or  some  great  noble  com- 
pleted the  ceremony  by  striking  the  kneel- 
ing youth  on  the  shoulder  with  the  flat  of 
his  sword,  and  saying  to  him, 

"  Sir  Knight,  arise  I  " 
xviii 


Introductory 


How  well  the  knjghts  kept  their  vows,  or 
how  humanly  they  failed,  has  furnished  to 
the  world  a  store  of  legends  that  should  not 
pass  away,  since  they  represent  the  begin- 
ning of  better  things. 

THE  TOURNAMENT 

The  principal  form  of  amusement  in  chiv- 
alric  times  was  the  "  tournament  "  or  "  tour- 
ney," generally  held  to  celebrate  some  notable 
occasion.  Tournaments  usually  took  place 
within  an  oval  space,  which  was  railed  off 
for  the  purpose  and  was  called  the  "lists." 
Around  this  oval  were  arranged  tiers  of 
seats  for  spectators,  many  of  whom  were 
ladies. 

When  the  time  came  for  the  trial  at  arms, 
two  parties  of  knights  —  the  challengers  and 
those  who  accepted  the  challenge  —  with- 
drew to  opposite  ends  of  the  lists.  And  a 
fine  spectacle  they  must  have  made,  for  they 
xix 


Introductory 


were  armed  from  top  to  toe,  and  mounted 
upon  splendid  war  horses  that  loved  the 
charge  not  a  whit  less  than  did  their  riders. 
Each  knight  was  distinguished  by  characters 
or  pictures  emblazoned  on  his  shield  (for  all 
had  their  faces  covered  with  vizors);  each 
often  decorated  his  helmet  with  a  "favor" 
from  a  lady,  such  as  a  scarf  or  a  glove.  The 
fair  one  was  highly  honored  by  such  a  com- 
pliment, and  she  whose  knight  won  in  the 
combat  was  regarded  with  much  envy. 

When  everything  was  ready,  the  two 
knights  who  were  chosen  to  "  tilt  "  first,  rode 
out  from  their  parties  and  reined  their  horses 
exactly  opposite  each  other  at  the  far  ends 
of  the  lists.  Then  all  became  intense  excite- 
ment; the  spectators  almost  held  their  breath 
a's  the  two  combatants  sat  silently  regarding 
each  other,  with  long  spears  held  "  in  rest," 
awaiting  the  signal  for  the  onset. 

When  the  heralds  cried,  "  Let  them  go ! " 
the  two  hurled  together  in  the  center  of  the 

XX 


Introductory 


lists,  each  bent  on  unhorsing  his  opponent 
by  a  well-aimed  thrust  of  his  lance.  He 
who  was  successful  in  bearing  his  enemy  to 
earth  was  greeted  with  loud  applause,  and 
was  allowed  to  choose  another  antagonist. 

The  first  part  of  the  tournament  was  given 
up  to  these  single  combats,  and  the  knight  who 
was  able  to  unhorse  the  greatest  number  was 
given  a  prize  and  made  the  hero  of  the  hour. 

The  grand  climax  came,  however,  when 
all  the  knights  in  the  tourney  formed  lines 
at  opposite  ends  of  the  field,  and  rushed 
together  in  the  center,  with  a  clash  of  arms 
that  made  the  earth  tremble  beneath.  In 
this,  as  in  the  single  combats,  great  honors 
awaited  the  victorious  side. 

The  people  then  gave  themselves  up  to  mer- 
rymaking and  feasting;  and  the  glories  that 
they  had  witnessed  were  their  chief  subject 
of  conversation  until  the  next  tournament. 

Such,  in  brief,  were  the  incidents  of  the 
tourney.  There  was  a  more  serious  side, 
xxi 


Introductory 


however,  and  a  full  account  of  all  its  phases 
would  fill  a  volume. 

It  is  not  a  wise  thing  to  disregard  the 
steps  by  which  we  have  ascended  —  to 
attempt  to  judge  by  twentieth  century 
lights  the  ages  that,  in  God's  providence, 
have  made  us  what  we  are. 

The  practices  of  Chivalry  were  designed 
to  cultivate  in  men  that  courage  and  gentle- 
ness and  high  sense  of  honor  essential  in  all 
ages  to  ideal  character.  If  they  were  not 
the  best  means  of  doing  this,  they  were  the 
best  known  in  those  days,  and  we  should 
judge  them  only  by  their  results. 

The  institution  of  Chivalry  is  dead ;  but  its 
spirit  is  immortal,  and  makes  its  home  in 
whatever  heart  is  great  and  generous  enough 
to  harbor  it.  Its  latest  and  best  expression 
is  the  modern  "  gentleman  "  —  not  the  imi- 
tation, but  the  real  one. 


XXII 


LEGENDS    OF   KING    ARTHUR 
AND    HIS    COURT 


Legends  of 
King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

_ 

THE   COMING   OF   ARTHUR 

"  Who  should  be  king  save  him  who  makes  us  free  ?  " 

TENNYSON. 

WHEN  Uther  Pendragon  was  king  in  Brit- 
ain, there  lived  in  that  country  a  wonderful 
magician  named  Merlin.  Now  this  Merlin, 
though  not  a  bad  man,  was  at  one  time  per- 
suaded to  help  the  king  do  an  evil  deed. 
In  return  for  this  help  Merlin  exacted  a 
promise  from  Uther  that  when  a  son  should 
be  born  to  the  king,  he — Merlin — should  be 
allowed  to  have  the  child  -and  rear  him  as 
he  should  choose. 

The  magician  could  read  the  future,  and 
of  course  knew  that  a  little  prince  would  be 


.  King  •  Arthur  and  His  Court 

born.  He  also  knew  that  the  king  would  die 
shortly,  and  that  great  dangers  awaited  his 
heir.  Maybe  it  was  for  this  reason  that  the 
old  magician  made  Uther  promise  to  give 
the  future  prince  to  him  —  that  he  might 
protect  the  lad  in  his  tender  years  and  pre- 
pare him  to  be  king.  Whatever  was  Merlin's 
reason  for  wanting  possession  of  the  prince 
that  was  to  be,  one  thing  is  sure  —  it  was  a 
good  reason,  as  was  afterwards  proved. 

Time  passed  on,  and  a  son  was  born  to  the 
king;  but  instead  of  the  little  prince's  birth 
being  heralded  abroad  amid  the  rejoicings  of 
a  glad  people,  the  infant  heir  to  the  proudest 
throne  in  Britain  was  slipped  by  night  out  of 
the  castle  gates,  and  given  to  Merlin  to  be 
carried  away;  and  nobody  was  told  that  a 
future  king  had  come  into  the  world. 

King  Uther  trusted  Merlin.  He  believed 
that  the  mighty  magician  would  care  for  his 
son,  and  would  in  time  bring  Arthur  (for  so 


The  Coming  of  Arthur 


the  child  was  named)  to  the  throne  which 
was  rightfully  his. 

And  Merlin  proved  worthy  of  that  trust. 
He  gave  the  child  to  a  good  old  knight,  Sir 
Anton,  to  rear,  and  himself  watched  over  the 
boy  through  all  the  dark  days  and  through 
all  the  glorious  days  which  followed. 

Nor  was  Merlin's  the  only  hand  that 
guided  the  uncertain  steps  of  Arthur's  youth. 
There  came  to  the  child  from  time  to  time 
three  beautiful  and  mysterious  queens,  who 
taught  him  many  wonderful  things. 

But  greatest  among  all  the  friends  of  his 
boyhood  was  the  "  Lady  of  the  Lake  "  —  she 
who  is  said  to  have  known  "  a  subtler  magic 
than  Merlin's  own."  No  mere  mortal  was 
she,  but  a  mystic  being  who  dwelt  down  in 
the  blue  depths  of  the  lake,  and  had  "  power 
to  walk  the  waters  like  our  Lord." 

When  Uther  Pendragon  died,  the  unhappy 
land  was  for  many  years  ravaged  by  rival 

3 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

knights,  each  of  whom  struggled  to  make 
himself  king.  It  was  during  this  dark  period 
that  Arthur,  all  unconscious  of  his  kingly 
origin,  grew  up  to  his  splendid  manhood: 
grew  up  to  catch  the  sunlight  of  a  brighter 
day  in  his  tresses,  and  the  blue  truth  of 
Heaven  in  his  eyes.  And  no  man  save 
Merlin  knew  him  to  be  King  Uther's  son. 
He  who  told  me  this  story  says  that  once, 
when  Arthur  and  Merlin  were  walking  along 
the  shore,  the  young  prince  complained  that 
he  had  no  weapon ;  when  suddenly  from  out 
the  bosom  of  the  lake  there  rose  a  mighty 
arm,  holding  a  splendid  sword.  Arthur 
rowed  across  and  took  the  brand.  And 
when  he  examined  the  bright,  jeweled  hilt, 
he  found  written  on  one  side,  "  Take  me," 
but  when  he  turned  the  other  side  he  read, 
"  Cast  me  away."  And  his  face  was  very 
sad  till  Merlin  said,  "Take  thou  and  strike; 
the  time  to  cast  away  is  yet  far  off."  Arthur 

4 


The  Coming  of  Arthur 


took  the  sword  and  called  its  name  "  Excali- 
bur"  —  cut  steel. 

Now  when  the  time  was  ripe  for  Arthur  to 
be  declared  king,  Merlin  advised  the  quarrel- 
ing lords  and  barons  to  gather  together  on  a 
certain  day  in  the  largest  church  in  London, 
to  see  if  God  would  not  show  them  who 
should  be  king. 

The  people  respected  and  feared  the  old 
magician;  so  at  his  suggestion  a  mighty 
concourse  gathered  on  the  day  appointed, 
to  wait  for  a  sign  from  God. 

When  mass  was  ended  — lo  !  Merlin  stood 
before  them  with  Arthur  at  his  side.  He 
placed  the  young  prince  on  a  high  seat 
and  proclaimed  to  the  people: 

"Here  is  Uther's  heir,  your  king!" 

Then  were  there  loud  shouts  of  denial 
from  each  who  would  himself  be  king,  and 
a  hundred  voices  cried,  "Away  with  him! 
No  king  of  ours!" 

5 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

But  Merlin  by  his  magic  caused  Arthur 
to  be  crowned,  and  as  "the  savage  yells  of 
Uther's  peerage  died,"  Arthur's  warriors 
cried,  "  Be  thou  the  king,  and  we  will  work 
thy  will  who  love  thee !  "  Then  the  people 
went  down  on  their  knees;  and,  lifting  up 
their  eyes,  they  beheld  a  sight  so  passing 
fair  and  wonderful  that  a  hush  fell  upon 
the  throng. 

In  the  center  of  the  dais  sat  the  fair- 
haired,  god-like  King.  Through  the  case- 
ment above  him  three  rays  of  light  —  flame- 
color,  green,  and  azure  —  fell  upon  three 
fair  queens  who  had  silently  taken  their 
places  about  him.  No  one  knew  whence 
they  had  come;  but  they  were  ever  by 
Arthur's  side  in  time  of  need. 

Merlin,  the  enchanter,  stood  beside  him; 
and  also  near  the  King,  "clothed  in  white 
samite,  mystic,  wonderful,"  was  the  Lady  of 

the  Lake.     Before  Arthur,  at  his  crowning, 

6 


The  Coming  of  Arthur 


was  borne  his  sword,  Excalibitr,  —  the  brand 
which  she  had  given  him. 

Those  who  were  truest  and  best,  the  flower 
of  Britain's  chivalry,  crowded  about  the  King 
on  his  coronation  day  and  desired  that  he 
knight  them  with  his  wonderful  sword, 
Excalibur.  As  Arthur  looked  upon  them, 
his  own  truth  and  purity  seemed  mirrored 
in  their  faces ;  for  one  who  saw  it  says,  "  I 
beheld,  from  eye  to  eye,  through  all  their 
order,  flash  a  momentary  likeness  of  the 
King." 

Then  in  low,  deep  tones  the  young  King 
administered  to  them  the  oath  of  knighthood. 
So  sacred  and  so  exalted  were  the  vows 
which  he  required  of  them  that,  when  they 
arose  from  their  knees,  their  faces  bore 
witness  to  the  solemnity  of  the  ceremony. 
Some  were  deadly  pale,  some  flushed,  and 
others  dazed  "  as  one  who  wakes  half-blinded 
at  the  coming  of  a  light." 

7 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

No  wonder -the  knights  paled  or  flushed 
at  the  sacredness  of  their  vows ;  for  kneeling 
at  the  feet  of  Arthur  they  swore  by  the  cross 
of  Christ 

"To  reverence  the  King,  as  if  he  were 
Their  conscience,  and  their  conscience  as  their  king, 
To  break  the  heathen  and  uphold  the  Christ, 
To  ride  abroad  redressing  human  wrongs, 
To  speak  no  slander,  no,  nor  listen  to  it, 
To  lead  sweet  lives  in  purest  chastity." 

"  The  coming  of  a  light "  indeed  !  The 
coming  of  Arthur  was  the  coming  of  God- 
like manliness  to  an  age  of  barbarity  and  sin. 
Well  might  old  Merlin  and  you  and  I  and 
all  the  world  exclaim, 

"  O  true  and  tender  !     O  my  liege  and  King  I 
O  selfless  man  and  stainless  gentleman  !  " 


Marriage  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 


THE   MARRIAGE    OF   ARTHUR 
AND   GUINEVERE 

AT  the  time  of  the  coming  of  Arthur, 
many  petty  kings  ruled  in  the  isle  of  Britain. 
They  ever  waged  war  upon  each  other  and 
wasted  all  the  land;  and  from  time  to  time 
heathen  hordes  swarmed  over  the  seas  and 
ravaged  what  was  left.  So  there  grew  up 
great  tracts  of  wilderness  "  wherein  the  beast 
was  ever  more  and  more,  but  man  was  less 
and  less." 

The  land  of  Camel iard,  where  Leodogran 
was  king,  was  the  most  unhappy  land  in  all 
the  isle;  it  was  constantly  a  prey  to  wild 
beasts  and  wilder  men.  The  boar  and  wolf 
and  bear  came  day  and  night  and  wallowed 
in  the  gardens  of  the  king,  or  stole  and 

9 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

devoured  the  children.  Leodogran's  own 
brother  rose  up  against  him ;  then  the 
heathen  came,  "  reddening  the  sun  with 
smoke  and  earth  with  blood." 

King  Leodogran  knew  not  where  to  turn 
for  -help,  till  he  heard  of  Arthur,  newly 
crowned.  When  people  told  him  of  this 
splendid  young  king,  he  sent  messengers  to 
Arthur,saying,  "  Arise  and  help  us  thou !  For 
here  between  the  man  and  beast  we  die." 

Arthur  had  not  yet  done  any  deed  of  arms, 
but  true  to  his  knightly  spirit  he  arose  and 
went  into  the  land  of  Cameliard  at  the  call 
of  a  fellow-creature  in  distress;  and  with 
him  rode  a  goodly  company  of  knights. 

Now  it  chanced  that  Guinevere,  the  beau- 
tiful daughter  of  the  king  of  Cameliard,  stood 
by  the  walls  of  her  father's  castle  to  see  the 
arrival  of  King  Arthur  and  his  company. 
But  Arthur  rode  "a  simple  knight  among 
his  knights,"  and  wore  no  sign  or  symbol  by 
10 


GUINEVERE  SEES  ARTHUR  BY  THE  CASTLE  WALL 


Marriage  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 

which  any  one  could  recognize  his  rank;  so 
Guinevere  did  not  know  him  to  be  the  young 
king.  But  he,  in  passing,  looked  down  upon 
the  lovely  maid  and  ever  after  carried  her 
fair  image  in  his  heart. 

But  Arthur  did  not  tarry  at  the  castle  to  see 
the  beautiful  princess ;  he  rode  on  and  pitched 
his  tents  beside  the  forest.  He  fought  a 
mighty  battle  with  the  heathen  and  drove 
them  out  of  the  land  of  Cameliard.  Then  he 
caused  the  forests  to  be  cut  down,  letting  in 
the  sunlight,  and  made  broad  pathways  for 
the  hunter  and  the  knight.  And  having  done 
this,  he  returned  to  his  own  kingdom. 

Meantime,  while  Arthur  was  absent,  the 
great  lords  and  barons  of  his  kingdom,  join- 
ing with  a  score  of  petty  kings,  rose  up 
against  him  with  the  cry,  "  Who  hath  proven 
him  King  Uther's  son  ?  "  And  he  returned 
from  his  victory  over  the  heathen  to  find 

his  own  people  in  arms  against  him. 

ii 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

When  the  King  and  his  knights  reached 
the  field  where  the  traitor  forces  were 
gathered,  the  day  was  so  clear  that  the 
"smallest  rock  on  the  faintest  hill"  could 
be  distinctly  seen;  so  when  they  advanced 
and  flung  their  banners  to  the  breeze,  they 
were  marked  at  once  by  the  waiting  enemy. 
Then,  to  clarion  call  and  trumpet  blast, 
with  the  shoutings  of  a  thousand  rebel 
throats,  the  traitors  came  thundering  to 
meet  the  King's  army.  And  right  valiantly 
did  the  true  and  loyal  receive  the  shock! 
Then  horse  to  horse  and  man  to  man  the 
battle  raged  —  now  lost !  —  now  won  !  Sud- 
denly a  blinding  storm  came  down  upon 
them,  and  the  fires  of  heaven,  lighting  up 
the  red  earth,  showed  Arthur  in  the  fore- 
most of  the  battle,  fighting  like  a  young 
god. 

And  lo  !  the  foe  turned  and  fled.  Arthur's 
knights  would  have  followed,  dealing  death 


12 


Marriage  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 

among   the    flying    numbers,   but    the   ever 
merciful  King  cried,  "  Stop !     They  yield !  " 

"  So  like  a  painted  battle  the  war  stood 
Silenced ;  the  living  quiet  as  the  dead, 
And  in  the  heart  of  Arthur  joy  was  lord." 

And  Arthur  laughed  upon  the  dark-eyed 
Launcelot,  the  knight  whom  he  loved  and 
honored  most,  and  said: 

"  Thou  dost  not  doubt  me  king,  so  well 
thine  arm  hath  wrought  for  me  to-day." 

"  Sir  and  my  liege,"  cried  Launcelot,  "  the 
fire  of  God  descends  upon  thee  in  the  battle- 
field ;  I  know  thee  for  my  king."  Whereat 
the  two  "  sware  on  the  field  of  death  a  death- 
less love,"  and  Arthur  said,  "  Man's  word  is 
God  in  man;  let  chance  what  will,  I  trust 
thee  to  the  death." 

When  the  king  had  put  down  the  rebellion, 
his  whole  heart  and  mind  turned  to  the 
beautiful  Guinevere ;  and  he  straightway 

13 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

sent  three  of  his  trusted  knights  to  Leodo- 
gran,  saying, 

"  If  I  in  aught  have  served  thee  well,  give 
me  thy  daughter  Guinevere  to  wife." 

Now  the  old  king  was  sore  troubled  at  the 
message.  He  was  deeply  grateful  to  Arthur 
for  having  saved  him  from  his  enemies,  and 
he  realized  what  an  advantage  to  himself  it 
would  be  to  be  allied  to  so  great  a  warrior; 
but  he  had  heard  many  conflicting  stories 
about  Arthur's  birth,  and  he  did  not  wish 
to  wed  his  daughter  to  a  man  who  might 
not  be  the  son  of  a  king. 

So  he  summoned  his  gray-haired  chamber- 
lain, and  after  him  the  knights  from  King 
Arthur's  court,  and  asked  many  questions 
concerning  the  birth  of  Arthur. 

Not  satisfied  with  the  testimony  of  these, 

—  for  all  believed  in  the  royal  descent  of 

Arthur,  though  none  could  prove  it,  —  Leo- 

dogran  next  questioned  Bellicent,  Queen  of 

14 


Marriage  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 

Orkney  and  sister  to  Arthur.  Her  story 
was  scarcely  more  convincing.  But  it  came 
to  pass  that  night  that  King  Leodogran 
dreamed  a  dream  in  which  he  beheld  Arthur 
standing  in  the  heavens,  crowned.  And  he 
awoke  and  sent  back  the  knights,  answer- 
ing, "  Yea." 

King  Arthur  was  glad  at  the  tidings,  and 
dispatched  the  knight  whom  he  loved  and 
honored  most  to  bring  the  Queen.  And 
Launcelot  departed  in  the  latter  part  of 
April,  and  returned  among  the  May  flowers 
with  Guinevere. 

With  the  fair  young  bride  King  Leodo- 
gran sent  to  Arthur  a  goodly  company  of  his 
most  valiant  knights,  and  also  a  wonderful 
round  table,  which  was  said  to  be  large 
enough  for  the  accommodation  of  an  hun- 
dred and  fifty  persons. 

Now  this  round  table  had  been  given 
Leodogran  by  King  Uther  Pendragon,  and 
15 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

was  said  to  possess  magic  powers.  King 
Arthur  was  much  pleased  with  these  gifts. 
He  received  the  stranger  knights  into  his 
own  order,  and  placed  the  round  table  in  the 
banquet  hall  of  the  castle.  And  there  ever 
after  the  knightly  were  wont  to  meet,  to  feast 
and  exchange  noble  converse.  From  that 
time  King  Arthur's  knights  were  known  as 
the  Knights  of  the  Round  Table. 

No  fairer  marriage  morn  has  ever  dawned 
upon  the  world  than  that  on  which  the 
King  and  Guinevere  knelt  before  the  holy 
St.  Dudric  to  exchange  vows  of  deathless 
love. 

The  great  city  seemed  "  on  fire  with  sun 
and  cloth  of  gold."  Beyond,  the  fair  fields  of 
Britain  were  white  with  the  flowers  of  May, 
and  white  were  the  flowers  that  decked  the 
marriage  altar,  and  white  the  raiment  of 
King  Arthur's  knights  who  stood  round 

him,  "glorying  in  their  vows  and  him." 
16 


Marriage  of  Arthur  and  Guinevere 

And  there  before  the  altar  Arthur  said : 

"  Let  chance  what  will,  I  love  thee  to  the 
death  !  "  And  the  Queen  replied : 

"  King  and  my  lord,  I  love  thee  to  the 
death ! " 

Then  the  holy  Dudric  spread  his  hands 
above  them  saying,  "  Reign  ye,  and  live  and 
love  and  make  the  world  other,  and  may  thy 
Queen  be  one  with  thee,  and  all  this  order 
of  thy  Table  Round  fulfill  the  boundless 
purpose  of  their  King." 

The  bridal  train  left  the  church  amid 
a  joyful  blast  of  trumpets;  and  Arthur's 
warriors  sang  before  the  King, 

"Blow  trumpet,  for  the  world  is  white  with  May ; 
Blow  trumpet,  the  long  night  hath  rolPd  away ! 
Blow  thro'  the  living  world  —  'Let  the  King  reign.' 

Shall  Rome  or  heathen  rule  in  Arthur's  realm  ? 
Flash  brand  and  lance,  fall  battleaxe  upon  helm, 
Fall  battleaxe,  and  flash  brand  !    Let  the  King  reign. 

17 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

Strike   for  the   King   and  live !     His    knights    have 

heard 

That  God  hath  told  the  King  a  secret  word. 
Fall  battleaxe,  and  flash  brand  !     Let  the  King  reign. 

Blow  trumpet !     He  will  lift  us  from  the  dust. 
Blow  trumpet !     Live  the  strength  and  die  the  lust ! 
Clang  battleaxe,   and    clash   brand!     Let  the   King 
reign. 

Strike  for  the  King  and  die  !     And  if  thou  diest, 
The  King  is  king,  and  ever  wills  the  highest. 
Clang  battleaxe,   and   clash  brand  !     Let   the   King 
reign. 

Blow,  for  our  Sun  is  mighty  in  his  May ! 
Blow,  for  our  Sun  is  mightier  day  by  day ! 
Clang  battleaxe,   and   clash   brand  !     Let  the   King 
reign. 

The  King  will  follow  Christ,  and  we  the  King, 
In  whom  high  God  hath  breathed  a  secret  thing. 
Fall  battleaxe,  and  flash  brand  !     Let  the  King  reign." 


18 


Garetk  and  Lynette 


GARETH    AND    LYNETTE 

PART  I 

KING  ARTHUR  became  mightier  day  by 
day.  He  drew  the  many  petty  kingdoms 
under  him ;  he  overthrew  the  heathen  in 
twelve  great  battles  and  drove  them  out  of 
the  land ;  he  crushed  out  the  Roman  power 
in  Britain,  and  "  made  a  realm  and  reigned." 
Verily  the  King  was  king  and  ever  willed 
the  highest! 

Bellicent,  wife  of  King  Lot  of  Orkney  and 
sister  to  Arthur,  was  the  mother  of  many 
stalwart  sons,  some  of  whom  were  knights  at 
Arthur's  court.  The  youngest,  fairest,  and 
tallest  of  them  all,  Gareth,  was  kept  at  home 
by  the  over-foolish  fondness  of  his  mother. 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

Strong  of  limb  and  stout  of  heart,  the 
young  lad  was  ever  restive  under  his  mother's 
coddling,  and  longed  for  the  excitement  of 
the  lists  and  the  sterner  joys  of  the  battle- 
field. And  he  ever  plagued  her  to  allow 
him  to  be  gone,  saying: 

"  Man  am  I  grown,  a  man's  work  must 
I  do." 

But  the  queen  mother  steadfastly  refused 
him  leave  to  go,  and  tried  to  distract  his 
thoughts,  saying: 

"  Stay ;  follow  the  deer.  So  make  thy 
manhood  mightier,  sweet,  in  the  chase." 

But  Gareth  answered  her :  "  Follow  the 
deer?  Follow  the  Christ,  the  King!  Else 
wherefore  born  ? " 

At  length,  worn  out  with  his  pleadings, 
the  queen  thought  to  quiet  him  by  granting 
his  request,  but  on  conditions  such  as  he 
would  certainly  reject.  Looking  keenly  at 

him  all  the  while,  she  told  him  that  he  must 
20 


Gareth  and  Lynette 


go  in  disguise  to  Camelot,  and  hire  himself 
as  a  kitchen  knave  in  the  King's  palace,  to 
serve  a  twelvemonth  and  a  day ;  and  that 
until  he  had  fulfilled  this  term  of  service, 
he  should  not  make  himself  known. 

Great  was  the  chagrin  of  Bellicent  when 
Gareth  assented  to  her  terms ;  but  when  he 
lingered  the  half-hope  rose  in  the  queen's 
heart  that  he  would  yet  resolve  to  stay. 

She  did  not  know  her  son. 

Early  one  morning,  while  the  castle  was 
yet  asleep,  Gareth  arose  and  clad  himself 
like  a  tiller  of  the  soil;  and  taking  with 
him  two  serving-men,  disguised  like  himself, 
he  quietly  slipped  away  to  King  Arthur's 
court. 

When  they  were  come  to  Camelot,  the 
"  city  of  shadowy  palaces,"  their  joy  and 
wonder  were  great  indeed ;  for  Camelot  was 
the  work  of  ancient  kings  who  wrought  the 
history  of  their  days  in  stone,  and  of  the 


21 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

enchanter  Merlin,  who  by  his  magic  raised 
castle,  palace,  wall,  and  tower. 

The  clang  of  arms  was  heard  ever  and 
anon,  as  the  knights  passed  in  and  out  of 
their  halls ; '  the  eyes  of  pure  women  glanced 
shyly  out  of  the  casements ;  "  and  all  about 
a  healthful  people  stept,  as  in  the  presence 
of  a  gracious  king." 

With  his  young  heart  hammering  in  his 
ears,  Gareth  ascended  to  the  hall  where  the 
King  held  court.  There  he  beheld  with 
his  own  eyes  the  great  Arthur  Pendragon, 
seated,  crowned;  and  the  far-famed  knights 
of  the  Round  Table,  who  watched  with  lov- 
ing eyes  their  lord,  eager  to  do  his  bidding. 
Gareth's  manly  heart  beat  high  when  he 
heard  King  Arthur's  clear,  deep  tones: 

"We  sit  king,  to  help  the  wronged  through- 
out all  our  realm." 

Ever  and  anon  there  came  to  Arthur  men 
and  women  from  various  parts  of  the  country, 
22 


Garetli  and  Lynette 


to  complain  of  wrong  suffered  or  misfortune 
endured.  And  the  King  hearkened  with  an 
ear  of  sympathy  to  their  complaints. 

As  each  tale  of  suffering  was  recited,  some 
knight  would  cry:  "A  boon,  Sir  King!  Give 
me  to  right  this  wrong." 

The  King  would  grant  the  boon,  and  the 
knight  would  ride  away  to  redress  the  wrong, 
counting  himself  most  happy  in  being  allowed 
to  do  battle  for  Christ  and  for  the  King. 

There  came  a  messenger  from  King  Mark 
of  Cornwall,  bearing  a  magnificent  present 
of  cloth  of  gold  which  he  laid  at  the  feet  of 
Arthur.  He  told  the  King  that  Mark  desired 
to  be  made  knight  of  the  Round  Table. 

Then  the  King,  who  had  been  but  a 
moment  before  all  gentle  courtesy  to  a 
peevish  woman,  rose  in  a  mighty  wrath  and 
cast  the  gift  into  the  fire.  He  told  the 
messenger  to  return  and  to  warn  Mark  of 
Cornwall  to  keep  forever  out  of  his  sight; 
23 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

for  Mark  was  a  traitorous,  lying  king  —  a 
craven,'  coward  thing  that  would  strike  when 
a  man  was  off  his  guard.  Then  quickly 
softening,  Arthur  said  to  the  frightened 
messenger : 

"It  is  no  fault  of  thine";  and  he  bade 
Sir  Kay,  the  seneschal,  look  to  the  man's 
wants  and  treat  him  courteously. 

Then  came  Gareth,  leaning  on  his  two 
companions,  and  cried: 

"  A  boon,  Sir  King !  For  see  ye  not  how 
weak  and  hunger-worn  I  seem,  leaning  on 
these?  Grant  me  to  serve  for  meat  and 
drink  among  thy  kitchen  knaves  a  twelve- 
month and  a  day,  nor  seek  my  name.  Here- 
after I  will  fight." 

The  King  answered  him,  saying:  "A  goodly 
youth  and  worth  a  goodlier  boon  !  But  if 
thou  wilt  no  goodlier,  have  then  thy  will. 
Sir  Kay  shall  be  thy  master."  Then  the 

King  rose  and  departed. 
24 


Gareth  and  Lynette 


Launcelot,  whose  keen,  dark  eyes  had 
watched  the  scene,  now  spoke  to  Sir  Kay, 
and  called  his  attention  to  the  noble  appear- 
ance of  Gareth.  He  advised  the  seneschal 
to  use  the  boy  kindly,  saying  that  he  was  no 
doubt  come  of  noble  blood.  But  the  rough 
Kay  told  Launcelot  to  attend  to  his  own 
affairs,  and  thereafter  made  life  very  unpleas- 
ant for  Gareth. 

In  spite  of  his  hard  master,  the  petted 
youth  found  his  service  not  unbearable.  He 
was  doing  his  duty ;  that  was  comfort  enough. 
He  listened  with  pleasure  to  the  chat  of 
his  fellow-knaves  concerning  the  great  lords 
above  them.  Best  of  all,  he  liked  the  stories 
about  Launcelot  and  the  King  —  about  their 
love  for  each  other,  and  how  "  Launcelot  was 
the  first  in  tournament,  but  Arthur  mightiest 
on  the  battlefield."  And  it  was  in  this  lowly 
company  that  Gareth  first  heard  the  prophecy 
which  said  that  the  King  should  not  suffer 
25 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

death,  but  should  pass  away  from  mortal 
sight,  none  knowing  whither. 

Once  in  a  while  Sir  Kay  would  give 
Gareth  leave,  and  he  would  hasten  away  to 
the  jousts  to  watch  the  great  deeds  of  arms, 
learning  as  he  looked.  And  Launcelot  was 
ever  kind  to  him. 

After  many  weeks,  Queen  Bellicent  re- 
lented and  sent  arms  to  her  son,  releasing 
him  from  the  promise  which  she  had-  required 
of  him. 

Gareth  then  hastened  to  the  King  and 
told  him  all.  -His  royal  liege  and  kinsman 
received  him  gladly  and  made  him  knight 
of  the  Table  Round.  Then  Gareth  begged 
that  his  name  and  state  might  still  remain 
unknown,  save  to  Launcelot ;  and  also  that 
he  might  be  granted  the  next  quest. 

The  King  consented ;  but  he  summoned 
Launcelot  privily  and,  having  told  him 

Gareth's  secret  and  request,  charged  him  to 
26 


Garetk  and  Lynette 


take  horse  and  follow  when  the  young  knight 
should  set  forth  on  his  first  quest. 

"  Cover  the  lions  on  thy  shield,"  he  said 
to  Launcelot,  "  and  see  he  be  nor  ta'en  nor 
slain." 

Now  that  same  day  there  came  to  the 
court  a  beautiful  damsel,  demanding  help. 
Not  in  suppliance  came  she,  but  in  a  passion 
of  indignation.  And  she  proceeded  to  tell 
the  King  in  no  very  humble  terms  about  the 
condition  of  certain  parts  of  his  realm,  and 
what  she  would  do  if  she  were  king. 

Arthur,  ever  courteous  to  a  woman,  dis- 
regarded her  impatience  and  gently  asked 
her  name  and  need. 

Somewhat  pacified  by  the  manner  of  the 
King,  the  damsel  told  him  that  her  name  was 
Lynette,  and  that  she  had  come  to  fetch  a 
knight  to  deliver  her  sister,  the  Lady  Lyonors, 
who  was  imprisoned  in  Castle  Perilous.  She 

said  that  there  was  a  river  which  flowed  in 
27 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

three  loops  about  the  castle,  and  that  this 
river  was  crossed  by  three  bridges,  each  of 
which  was  held  by  a  mighty  knight;  that 
there  was  a  fourth  and  more  terrible  knight, 
in  league  with  the  others,  who  besieged  the 
castle  and  declared  that  he  would  take  it 
and  force  the  Lady  Lyonors  to  wed  him. 
Lynette  further  told  the  King  that  it  was  the 
boast  of  this  last-named  knight  that  he  would 
defeat  the  mightiest  in  the  land  and  wed  the 
Lady  Lyonors  with  glory.  It  was  because 
Lynette  had  promised  to  fetch  Launcelot  to 
combat  this  knight  that  he  had  allowed  her 
to  pass  from  Castle  Perilous ;  and  now  she 
demanded  of  the  King  that  Launcelot  return 
with  her  and  slay  these  four  and  set  her 
sister  free. 

"A  boon,  Sir  King  —  this  quest !  "-  cried 
a  strong  young  voice ;  and  lo !  Gareth,  in 
kitchen  garb,  stood  up  among  that  knightly 

company. 

28 


LYNETTE  AND  ARTHUR 


Gareth  and  Lynette 


The  King  had  promised.  He  knit  his  brows 
for  a  moment,  then,  looking  up,  said :  "  Go." 

All  save  Launcelot  stood  amazed.  The 
face  of  Lynette  burned  with  indignation  as 
she  lifted  her  arms  and  cried : 

"  Fie  on  thee,  King !  I  asked  thy  chiefest 
knight,  and  thou  hast  given  me  but  a  kitchen 
knave  !  "  Then,  ere  any  man  could  stay  her, 
she  fled  down  the  long  hall,  sprang  upon  her 
horse,  and  dashed  away. 

Flinging  off  the  loose  garment  of  the 
kitchen  knave  and  displaying  to  the  aston- 
ished knights  a  full  suit  of  armor,  Sir  Gareth 
strode  after  her.  At  the  door  he  found  a 
splendid  horse,  a  shield,  and  arms,  which 
the  King  had  provided  for  him.  Losing 
no  time,  he  sprang  upon  his  charger  and 
rode  after  the  ungrateful  damsel  whom  he 
had  undertaken  to  aid.  Then  straightway 
Sir  Launcelot  covered  the  lions  on  his  shield 

and  followed  at  a  distance. 
29 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

After  her  first  wrathful  dash  through  field 
and  forest,  Lynette  checked  her  horse  some- 
what to  reflect,  when,  to  her  great  indigna- 
tion, she  saw  the  "kitchen  knave"  in  full 
armor,  close  behind. 

"  Damsel,  the  quest  is  mine.  Lead  and  I 
follow,"  he  said  in  gentlest  courtesy. 

But  Lynette  scorned  his  services,  call- 
ing him  "  knave  "  and  "  scullion."  And  she 
railed  against  King  Arthur  for  sending  a 
serving-man  to  bear  her  company  and  fight 
her  battles.  Then  she  whipped  up  her  steed 
again,  thinking  to  escape  Gareth's  unwelcome 
championship ;  but  the  young  knight  followed 
close  behind  her. 

Now  it  chanced  that  Lynette,  in  her 
blind  wrath,  gave  little  heed  to  the  direction 
of  her  journey;  and  Gareth,  not  knowing 
the  way,  unquestioning,  followed  his  reckless 
guide.  Soon  they  realized  that  they  were 
lost.  They  had  entered  a  deep  and  tangled 
30 


Gareth  and  Lynette 


wood,  and  the  shadows  of  evening  were 
sifting  down  about  them.  On  and  on  they 
went,  trying  to  find  a  way  out,  when  presently 
they  came  upon  six  tall  men  bearing  a 
seventh,  bound,  to  a  lake  hard  by.  Seeing 
that  the  villains  were  about  to  drown  a  help- 
less man,  Gareth  dashed  among  them  with 
drawn  sword  and  dealt  mighty  blows  right 
and  left.  Three  he  felled  to  the  earth,  and 
the  three  others,  seeing  the  fate  of  their  com- 
panions, left  their  victim  and  fled  through 
the  forest.  Then  Gareth  unbound  the  mal- 
treated man,  who  proved  to  be  lord  of  a  great 
castle  near  by.  The  baron  was  deeply  grate- 
ful to  Gareth  for  having  delivered  him,  and 
asked  what  reward  the  young  knight  would 
like  to  receive. 

"None,"  said  Gareth  bluntly.  "For  the 
deed's  sake  I  have  done  the  deed,  in  utter- 
most obedience  to  the  King."  Gareth  then 
said  he  would  be  much  pleased  if  the  lord 

3* 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

would  grant  them  entertainment  in  his  castle 
till  the  morrow.  The  good  baron  took  them 
home  with  him  and  treated  them  right  royally. 
The  willful  Lynette  had  determined  to  see 
no  good  in  her  knight,  so  she  only  tilted  her 
nose  a  trifle  higher  and  pretended  to  believe 
that  he  had  succeeded  in  his  valorous  deed 
by  accident. 


Garcth  and  Lvuctlc 


GARETH    AND    LYNETTE 

PART   II 

THE  next  morning  the  baron  told  them 
what  path  to  take,  and  they  mounted  and 
rode  away.  Lynette,  still  taunting  the  young 
knight,  advised  him  to  turn  back ;  for  they 
were  hard  upon  the  first  of  those  dreadful 
knights  whom  he  had  come  to  combat. 

"  Lead  and  I  follow,"  was  Gareth's  only 
reply. 

Soon  they  came  to  the  first  of  the  three 
great  loops  of  the  river  which  wound  around 
Castle  Perilous ;  and  Gareth  beheld  the 
bridge  that  was  sentineled  by  the  knight 
"  Phosphorus." 

Just  across  the  stream  they  saw  his  silk 
pavilion  all  gay  in  gold  and  white,  with  a 

33 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

crimson  banner  floating  over  it.  Before 
the  pavilion  paced  a  knight  unarmed.  But 
when  he  saw  Lynette  and  her  champion 
he  called: 

"  Daughters  of  the  Dawn,  approach  and 


arm  me ! " 


Out  of  the  pavilion  came  three  rosy 
maidens  with  the  dew  glistening  on  their 
hair.  These  armed  the  knight  in  blue  armor 
and  gave  to  him  a  blue  shield. 

When  the  knight  of  the  azure  shield  was 
mounted  and  ready,  he  and  Gareth  placed 
their  spears  in  rest  and  dashed  together. 
Both  spears  bent  in  the  shock,  both  knights 
lay  unhorsed  on  the  bridge ;  but  Gareth, 
springing  lightly  to  his  feet,  drew  his  sword 
and,  showering  fierce  blows  upon  his  enemy, 
drove  him  backward.  Then  Lynette  —  half 
in  scorn,  half  in  astonished  admiration  — 
cried  after  him :  "  Well  stricken,  kitchen 
knave ! " 

34 


Gareth  and  Lynette 


In  another  moment  Gareth  had  his  foe 
on  the  ground,  defeated. 

"Take  not  my  life;  I  yield!"  cried 
Phosphorus. 

But  Gareth  refused  to  spare  him  unless 
Lynette  would  ask  it.  At  first  the  damsel 
scorned  to  beg  a  favor  of  the  "kitchen 
knave " ;  but,  seeing  that  Gareth  was  in 
earnest,  she  at  length  condescended  to  crave 
mercy  for  the  defeated  knight. 

Then  Gareth  pardoned  Phosphorus,  first 
having  made  him  promise  to  go  to  the  court 
of  Arthur  and  offer  himself  as  a  true  and 
loyal  knight  —  nevermore  to  bear  arms 
against  the  King. 

As  if  repentant  of  having  cheered  him  on 
in  his  combat,  Lynette  now  treated  Gareth 
with  the  greater  scorn  and  taunted  him  the 
more  cruelly  as  they  rode  towards  the  second 
loop  of  the  river.  There  they  found  the 
knight  "  Meridies,"  "huge,  on  a  huge  red 

35 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

horse,"  bearing  a  shield  with  the  great  sun 
blazoned  on  it. 

He  and  Gareth  met  in  mid-stream.  A 
fierce  combat  ensued,  during  which  the  horse 
of  Meridies  slipped  on  the  rocks  and  fell 
with  his  rider.  Then  Meridies  yielded  him 
to  Gareth,  being  too  much  bruised  by  his 
fall  to  continue  the  fight. 

Gareth  compelled  from  him  the  same 
promise  which  he  had  required  of  Phos- 
phorus ;  and  he  and  the  damsel  rode  forward. 

If  Gareth  believed  that  his  victory  over 
the  second  knight  would  win  him  the  favor 
of  the  Lady  Lynette,  he  soon  realized  his 
mistake.  She  only  laughed  at  him,  saying 
that  he  could  not  have  won  the  victory  had 
not  the  horse  of  his  foe  slipped  and  fallen. 

Then  came  the  combat  at  the  third  bridge 

with   the   third    knight,    "  Hesperus."      Old 

and    strong  was   he,  and   clothed    in    many 

tough   skins,     No  rosy  maidens  came  trip- 

36 


Garet/i  and  Lynette 


ping  out  to  arm  him  for  the  fray,  but  a 
grizzled  damsel,  bearing  old  armor  crowned 
with  a  withered  crest. 

Here  also  was  Gareth  victorious  —  this 
time  by  the  help  of  no  accident,  but  by  the 
very  strength  of  his  good  right  arm.  The 
struggle  was  long  and  fierce,  and  many  times 
he  was  in  dire  danger;  but  he  returned  to 
the  fight  again  and  again,  like  a  man  who 
knew  not  how  to  fail. 

Lynette,  acknowledging  his  valor  at  last, 
cried  out  to  cheer  him,  again  and  again : 

"  Well  done,  knave  knight !  "  and  "  Strike, 
thou  art  worthy  of  the  Table  Round ! " 

At  length,  inspired  by  her  voice,  Gareth 
ended  the  combat  by  closing  his  strong  arms 
around  his  foe  (for  both  had  been  unhorsed) 
and  pitching  him  over  the  bridge  into  the 
stream  below. 

"  Lead  and  I  follow,"  he  said  to  the 
damsel;  but  Lynette  replied: 

37 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

"  I  lead  no  longer ;  ride  thou  at  my  side." 
She  then  very  graciously  apologized  for  her 
former  rudeness  to  him.  Of  course  a  knight 
who  had  had  the  example  of  the  gentle  King 
before  him  knew  how  to  forgive  a  maiden's 
waywardness;  and  the  two  rode  on  together, 
friends. 

Then  came  the  night  upon  them ;  and  the 
damsel  told  him  of  a  cavern,  hard  at  hand, 
where  the  Lady  Lyonors  had  caused  to  be 
placed  bread  and  meat  and  wine  for  the 
refreshment  of  the  good  knight  who  should 
come  to  deliver  her.  As  they  were  about  to 
enter  the  cave,  Launcelot  rode  up  and  made 
himself  known  to  them,  and  the  three  went 
in  together. 

Then  Gareth  told  the  maiden  who  he  was 
—  a  prince  in  disguise  —  and  she  was  much 
pleased  to  find  that  her  champion  was  so 
great  a  personage. 

Worn  out  with  travel  and  with  fighting, 
38 


GARETH  PITCHES  HESPERUS  OVER  THE  BRIDGE 


Garcth  and  Lynette 


Gareth  finally  dropped  into  a  deep  sleep ;  and 
while  he  slumbered,  Lynette  and  Launcelot 
planned  his  next  adventure  for  him. 

There  was  one  of  the  four  knights  yet  to 
be  overthrown,  "  Nox,"  the  most  terrible,  who 
besieged  the  Lady  Lyonors  in  Castle  Peril- 
ous. He  it  was  who  had  allowed  Lynette 
to  ride  out  of  her  sister's  castle,  that  she 
might  bear  his  challenge  to  Sir  Launcelot. 

Now  Lynette  knew  that  Nox  would  not 
do  battle  with  any  less  famous  knight  than 
Launcelot;  and  since  Gareth  had  fought  so 
valiantly  all  her  other  battles,  she  wished 
him  to  win  his  full  measure  of  glory  by 
defeating  the  fourth  and  most  terrible  knight 
of  all.  Neither  did  the  generous  Launcelot 
wish  in  any  wise  to  lessen  Gareth's  glory 
by  taking  upon  himself  the  chief  battle. 
So  while  the  youth  slept,  Launcelot  and 
the  maid  decided  that  Gareth  should  bear 
the  shield  of  Launcelot  —  that  Nox  might 

39 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

mistake  him  for  the  knight  whom  he  had 
challenged,  and  so  not  decline  to  do  battle 
with  him. 

So  it  came  about  that  when  they  mounted 
and  rode  again,  Gareth  went  before,  bear- 
ing the  lions  of  Launcelot.  Suddenly 
Lynette  rode  forward  to  his  side  and 
grasped  his  shield.  There  was  now  no 
trace  of  the  scornful  damsel  of  the  day 
before.  Self-blame  and  fear  paled  her  lovely 
face,  and  her  eyes  were  full  of  pleading  as 
she  begged  her  knight  to  give  back  the 
shield  to  Launcelot. 

"  Wonders  ye  have  done ;  miracles  ye 
cannot.  I  swear  thou  canst  not  fling  the 
fourth,"  she  cried.  And  in  her  fear  for  him, 
she  told  horrible  stories  of  Nox  to  deter  him 
from  his  purpose. 

"  O  prince ! "  she  cried,  "  I  went  for 
Launcelot  first.  The  quest  is  Launcelot's; 

give  him  back  the  shield." 
40 


Gareth  and  Lynette 


But  Gareth  would  not  yield,  so  Lynette 
fell  back,  sighing,  "  Heaven  help  thee ! " 

After  a  few  more  paces  she  pointed  in 
front  of  them  and  whispered,  "  There !  " 

Through  the  shadows  of  night  the  gloomy 
walls  of  Castle  Perilous  rose  before  them. 
On  the  plain  in  front  was  pitched  the  huge 
pavilion  of  Nox — jet  black,  with  a  jet  black 
banner  floating  above. 

Gareth  seized  the  long  black  horn  that 
hung  beside  the  pavilion  and  blew  three 
mighty  blasts  thereon  in  challenge.  Sud- 
denly lights  twinkled  in  the  castle,  and  the 
Lady  Lyonors  appeared  at  a  window  with 
her  maidens  to  see  the  champion  who  had 
come  to  deliver  her. 

They  heard  hollow  tramplings  and  muffled 
voices,  and  presently  the  curtain  of  the  great 
black  pavilion  was  drawn  aside  and  the 
monster,  Nox,  rode  out.  High  on  a  night- 
black  horse,  with  night-black  arms,  he  rode. 
4' 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

On  his  breastplate  were  painted  the  ribs  of  a 
skeleton,  and  instead  of  a  crest  a  grinning 
skull  crowned  his  helmet. 

The  monster  paused,  but  spoke  no  word. 
All  stood  aghast  with  horror.  A  maiden 
at  the  castle  window  swooned.  The  Lady 
Lyonors  wept  and  wrung  her  hands;  and 
even  Launcelot  felt  the  ice  strike  through 
his  blood  for  a  moment. 

Those  who  did  not  shut  their  eyes  for 
terror  saw  Gareth  and  the  black  knight  sud- 
denly dash  together ;  and  they  could  hardly 
trust  their  own  sight  when  they  beheld  the 
great  Nox  unhorsed.  They  looked  again 
and  saw  Gareth  split  the  fearful  skull  with 
one  stroke  of  his  sword,  and  with  another 
lay  wide  open  the  helmet  beneath  it.  Then 
—  wonderful  to  relate!  —  there  appeared  out 
of  the  cloven  helmet  the  bright  face  of  a 
blooming  boy.  He  yielded  him  to  Gareth, 

crying,  "  Knight,  slay  me  not ! " 

42 


Garcth  aud  Lyncttc 


When  Gareth  consented  to  spare  his  life, 
the  boy  told  that  the  three  knights  at  the 
bridges  were  his  brothers,  and  had  compelled 
him  to  array  himself  in  that  fearful  guise  to 
frighten  the  inmates  of  the  castle  —  never 
dreaming  that  any  hostile  knight  could  safely 
pass  the  bridges. 

Then  was  there  great  rejoicing  and  merry- 
making at  the  castle ;  the  Lady  Lyonors  was 
free.  And  news  was  carried  back  to  King 
Arthur  how  well  his  young  knight  had  struck 
for  the  right  and  him. 

"He  that  told  the  tale  in  older  times 
Says  that  Sir  Gareth  wedded  Lyonors, 
But  he  that  told  it  later,  says  Lynette." 


43 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 


LAUNCELOT   AND    ELAINE 
PART  I 

ONCE  upon  a  time  a  king  and  his  brother 
fought  to  the  death  in  a  lonely  glen;  and 
such  was  the  horror  which  thereafter  clung 
about  the  place,  that  no  man  went  to 
cover  their  ghastly  bodies  with  their  mother 
dust,  and  no  man  walked  that  way  again 
for  fear. 

Now  it  chanced  that  Arthur  in  his  wan- 
derings—  ere  they  had  crowned  him  king  — 
strayed  into  this  horror-haunted  dell,  not 
knowing  where  he  was.  Nor  did  he  realize 
it  till  he  stepped  upon  a  skeleton,  and  saw 
roll  from  the  head  thereof  a  glittering  dia- 
dem. He  ran  after  the  crown,  and  picked 
44 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


it  up  and  placed  it  on  his  head  —  his  heart 
all  the  while  whispering,  "  Lo,  thou  likewise 
shalt  be  king." 

In  the  after  years,  when  he  became  king 
indeed,  he  caused  the  nine  large  diamonds 
that  ornamented  the  crown  of  the  dead  king 
to  be  taken  out.  And  he  proclaimed,  each 
year  thereafter  for  nine  years,  a  great  joust, 
in  which  the  knight  who  should  bear  him 
most  valiantly  should  be  rewarded  with  one 
of  these  priceless  gems. 

Eight  years  passed  and  eight  jousts  were 
held,  and  in  each  Launcelot  won  the  dia- 
mond. Now  when  the  time  was  come  for 
the  last  diamond  joust,  great  preparations 
were  made  throughout  the  realm,  for  this 
was  to  be  the  most  splendid  of  them  all. 

Launcelot  was  so  easily  first  in  all  knightly 
deeds,  it  came  to  be  said  about  the  court 
that  men  went  down  before  him  in  the  lists 
through  the  very  power  of  his  reputation, 

45 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

and  not  through  any  superior  strength  or 
skill  that  he  possessed. 

Hearing  this  gossip,  Launcelot  conceived 
a  plan  by  which  to  prove  to  the  knights 
their  mistake.  He  pretended  to  the  King 
that  an  old  hurt  pained  him,  so  that  he  must 
needs  remain  at  home  from  this  trial  at  arms. 

It  grieved  the  King  sorely  that  his  best 
beloved  knight  should  miss  the  last  and 
greatest  joust  of  all;  for  he  had  felt  sure 
that  Launcelot  would  win  in  this  as  in  all 
the  others.  So  he  rode  away  with  his 
knights,  sorrowing  to  leave  Launcelot  be- 
hind. 

No  sooner  had  the  King  left,  than  Launce- 
lot mounted  his  horse  and,  taking  a  seldom- 
trodden  path  through  the  forest,  went  by  a 
longer  route  towards  the  field  of  tournament. 
But  he  had  never  ridden  that  way  before, 
and  he  soon  lost  himself  in  the  lonely  wood. 

After   many   wanderings,   he   saw  on    a  far 
46 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


distant  hill  a  stately  castle.  To  this  point 
he  directed  his  good  steed,  and  soon  arrived 
before  the  massive  gate  of  Astolat.  He 
wound  the  horn  which  hung  beside  it;  and 
forth  there  came  to  admit  him  an  old, 
myriad-wrinkled  man,  who  made  signs  to 
the  knight  that  he  was  dumb. 

The  lord  of  Astolat  and  his  two  sons,  Sir 
Torre  and  Sir  Lavaine,  met  him  in  the  court 
with  kindly  welcome.  And  the  daughter  of 
the  house,  she  who  for  her  beauty  and  her 
purity  was  called  "  the  lily  maid  of  Astolat," 
came  also  to  greet  him. 

The  host  asked  the  stranger's  name  and 
state,  adding  that  he  supposed  him,  by  his 
bearing,  to  be  one  of  King  Arthur's  knights. 

Launcelot  told  him  that  he  was  one  of 
the  Table  Round,  but  craved  that  his  name 
might  be  his  secret,  since  he  wished  to  attend 
the  coming  joust  in  disguise ;  and  he  begged 
also  that  a  shield  be  lent  him,  that  none 
47 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

might  recognize  him  in  the  lists.  For 
Launcelot  had  decided  to  tilt  as  an  unknown 
knight,  that  no  man  might  be  overawed  by 
his  great  reputation. 

The  lord  of  Astolat  courteously  allowed 
his  secret,  and  told  him  that  he  might  bear 
the  shield  of  Sir  Torre,  which  was  "blank 
enough "  —  Torre  having  been  injured  in 
his  first  tilt,  so  that  he  was  never  again 
able  to  bear  arms.  The  old  man  added 
that  Lavaine  wished  to  go  also  and  take 
part  in  the  diamond  joust. 

As  they  stood  thus  in  pleasant  converse, 
Elaine,  the  lily  maid,  watched  the  handsome 
face  of  Launcelot  worshipfully,  marking  here 
and  there  a  scar  from  an  old  wound.  And 
from  that  moment  she  loved  him  "  with  that 
love  which  was  her  doom." 

That  night  Launcelot  abode  at  the  castle 
of  Astolat,  Sir  Lavaine  having  promised  to 

ride  with  him  on  the  morrow  to  the  place 
48 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


of  tournament.  The  attendants  spread  meat 
and  drink  before  them,  and  pleasant  moments 
were  spent  in  feasting  and  talking  together. 
Much  the  people  of  Astolat  asked  about 
King  Arthur  and  his  Round  Table  knights. 
Launcelot  told  them  at  length  the  story 
of  Arthur's  glorious  wars ;  and  none  knew 
better  how  to  tell  it,  for  he  was  ever  nearest 
the  King  in  those  hard-fought  battles.  Yet 
he  spoke  not  of  his  own  valor,  but  always 
of  the  King's,  ending  with: 

"  I  never  saw  his  like ;  there  lives  no 
greater." 

"Save  your  great  self,  fair  lord,"  whis- 
pered Elaine  in  her  foolish  heart;  and  she 
loved  him  all  the  more. 

All  night  the  lily  maid  lay  and  dreamed  of 
Launcelot ;  and  when  early  dawn  was  come, 
she  arose  and  robed  herself  and  stole  down 
the  long  tower  stairs  to  say  good-by  to  — 
her  brother,  so  she  told  her  throbbing  heart. 
49 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

Lavaine  was  making  ready  for  the  journey, 
and  Launcelot  waited  in  the  court,  patting 
his  charger's  neck.  His  quick  ear  catching 
a  light  step,  the  knight  looked  up  and  beheld 
in  the  dewy  light  of  dawn  a  maid  so  fair  and 
flower-like  that  he  stood  silent,  more  amazed 
than  if  seven  men  had  set  upon  him.  "He 
had  not  dreamed  she  was  so  beautiful "  — 
he  looked  and  wondered,  but  he  did  not 
love. 

Suddenly  a  wild  desire  flashed  in  the  heart 
of  Elaine.  She  had  heard  how  the  knights 
wore  in  the  lists  "  tokens  "  or  "  favors  "  from 
ladies  whom  they  loved  or  wished  to  honor; 
and  she  much  desired  that  this  great  knight 
should  wear  her  favor  in  the  coming  joust. 
Her  young  heart  beat  high  with  fear,  yet  she 
could  but  ask  the  courtesy  of  him,  and  she 
said: 

"  Fair  lord  whose  name  I  know  not  —  will 
you  wear  my  favor  in  this  tourney  ?  " 
50 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


Now  Launcelot  had  never  worn  the  favor 
of  any  lady  in  the  land,  and  he  had  a  secret 
reason  for  wishing  not  to  do  so  now;  so, 
disliking  to  refuse  a  maiden  bluntly,  he 
merely  told  her  of  his  custom. 

But  Elaine  would  not  take  the  half- 
expressed  refusal.  She  told  him  that  since 
such  had  been  his  wont,  the  wearing  of  a 
lady's  favor  at  this  joust,  where  he  wished 
to  be  unknown,  would  but  help  to  complete 
his  disguise. 

"True,  my  child.  Well,  I  will  wear  it; 
fetch  it  out  to  me,"  answered  Launcelot. 

The  maiden  then  brought  out  to  him  a 
red  sleeve  embroidered  with  pearls.  And  he 
bound  it  to  his  helmet,  saying  with  a  smile : 

"  I  never  yet  have  done  so  much  for  any 
maiden  living." 

When  Lavaine  brought  out  Sir  Torre's 
shield  to  Launcelot,  the  knight  gave  his 
own  to  Elaine,  saying: 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

"  Do  me  this  grace,  my  child,  to  have 
my  shield  in  keeping  till  I  come."  Then 
Lavaine  kissed  the  roses  back  to  the  cheeks 
of  the  lily  maid,  and  Launcelot  kissed  his 
hand  to  her,  and  the  two  knights  rode  away. 

"  Elaine  the  fair,  Elaine  the  lovable, 
Elaine  the  lily  maid  of  Astolat, 
High  in  her  chamber  up  a  tower  to  the  east 
Guarded  the  sacred  shield  of  Launcelot." 

Thus  says  the  poet.  And  he  tells  us  fur- 
ther how  she  placed  the  shield  where  the 
sun's  first  rays  would  strike  it  and  waken 
her  from  dreams  of  the  great  knight  for 
whom  she  had  it  in  keeping;  how,  later, 
fearing  rust,  she  embroidered  a  case  to 
enclose  it,  fashioning  with  slender  silken 
threads  designs  like  those  on  the  shield 
itself,  each  in  its  own  color;  how,  day  by 
day,  she  stripped  the  cover  off  and  studied 
the  naked  shield,  making  for  herself  a  pretty 
52 


ELAINE  AND   LAUNCELOTS  SHIELD 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


history  of  how  each  dint  and  cut  had  been 
made  —  in  what  tournament  or  on  what 
battlefield  Thus  passed  her  days  in  vain 
and  sweet  imaginings. 

The  two  knights  rode  on  to  the  lists,  and 
as  they  journeyed  the  elder  said: 

"  Hear,  but  hold  my  name  hidden ;  you 
ride  with  Launcelot  of  the  Lake."  Lavaine 
was  surprised  and  abashed  at  the  great 
name,  and  stammered  as  he  replied: 

"  Is  it  so  indeed?  "  Then,  as  if  to  himself, 
he  murmured,  "  The  great  Launcelot." 

When  they  reached  the  lists  by  Camelot, 
in  the  meadow,  the  young,  unproven  knight 
was  overjoyed  at  the  gorgeous  sight  which 
met  his  eyes.  The  great  semicircular  gal- 
lery of  seats,  filled  with  richly  dressed  spec- 
tators, "lay  like  a  rainbow  fallen  upon  the 
grass."  The  knights,  magnificent  in  their 
armored  array,  were  already  assembling  in 
the  lists.  The  Round  Table  knights  were 

53 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

the  challenging  party,  and  those  who  came 
to  tilt  against  them  were  kings,  princes,  and 
barons,  and  knights  from  far  and  near. 

Lavaine  let  his  eyes  wander  till  they  found 
the  clear-faced  King.  In  high  estate  King 
Arthur  sat,  robed  in  red  samite.  The  golden 
dragons  of  his  father,  Uther  Pendragon,  or 
Uther  Dragonhead,  stood  out  in  all  the  carv- 
ings about  the  royal  seat.  A  golden  dragon, 
clinging  to  his  crown,  writhed  down  his  long 
robe.  Two  others  formed  the  arms  of  the 
chair  of  state.  Just  above  the  King's  head, 
in  the  ornaments  of  the  canopy,  was  a  golden 
flower,  the  center  of  which  was  the  ninth  and 
largest  diamond,  the  prize  of  the  day. 

Launcelot's  eyes  also  sought  the  King, 
and  he  said  to  Lavaine:  "  Me  you  call  great 
—  I  am  not  great ;  there  is  the  man." 

There  was  little  time  for  converse  then. 
Lavaine  beheld  the  company  of  knights 
divide  —  they  that  assailed  and  they  that 
54 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


held  the  lists  taking  positions  at  opposite 
ends  of  the  great  oval  field.  With  helmets 
crested  with  their  ladies'  favors  or  with  nod- 
ding plumes,  and  long  lances  bedecked  with 
pennons  that  danced  to  the  lilt  of  the  breeze, 
the  great  company  of  knights  awaited  the 
signal  for  the  onset.  And  no  less  impatient 
than  their  riders,  the  splendid  war-horses 
quivered  for  the  spring. 

As  the  knights  formed  lines  for  the  com- 
ing shock,  Launcelot,  signaling  to  Lavaine, 
drew  out  of  the  range  of  combat.  The 
younger  knight  would  fain  have  entered  the 
sport  at  once,  but  the  wish  of  Launcelot  was 
law  to  his  hero-worshiping  heart,  and  he 
followed  his  leader. 

Suddenly  the  heralds  blew  a  mighty  blast 
on  their  trumpets;  the  knights  struck  spur; 
and  riders  and  steeds,  alike  wild  with  the  joy 
of  conflict,  hurled  them  together  in  the  center 
of  the  lists.  Then  for  a  few  mad,  glorious 

55 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

moments  the  hard  earth  trembled  with  the 
shock,  and  the  clear  air  of  morning  rever- 
berated with  the  thunder  of  arms. 

Launcelot  tarried  a  little  till  he  saw  which 
was  the  stronger  party ;  then  hurled  his  force 
against*  it,  Lavaine  following  his  lead. 

The  knights  of  the  Round  Table  were  by 
far  the  mightier  in  the  field  till  he  of  the  scar- 
let sleeve  dashed  against  them.  Then  was 
Launcelot  Launcelot  indeed.  No  need  to 
speak  of  his  glory.  "  King,  duke,  earl,  count, 
baron  —  whom  he  smote,  he  overthrew." 

The  spectators  half  rose  in  their  seats  in 
astonished  admiration  at  his  deeds ;  the  eyes 
of  the  great  King  brightened ;  the  knights  in 
the  lists  were  wonderstruck  that  other  than 
Launcelot  should  almost  outdo  the  deeds  of 
Launcelot.  There  arose  in  the  hearts  of  the 
Round  Table  knights  a  keen  jealousy  that  a 
stranger  should  surpass  in  chivalric  deeds 
the  mightiest  of  their  order.  The  cousins 

56 


(From  an  old  tapestry) 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


of  Launcelot  —  fine  knights  and  strong — 
determining  to  overthrow  the  stranger,  and 
thus  leave  their  kinsman  peerless  still,  sud- 
denly bore  down  upon  the  disguised  knight 
—  a  mighty  company  against  one  man.  One 
lance,  held  downward,  lamed  the  charger  of 
the  unknown  knight ;  another  sharply  pricked 
his  cuirass,  and  passing  through  it,  pierced 
deeply  Launcelot 's  side.  And  the  head 
thereof  broke  off  and  remained. 

Then  did  Lavaine  right  gallantly.  Fired 
by  the  danger  of  his  beloved  lord,  he  bore  a 
seasoned  and  mighty  knight  to  earth,  then 
brought  the  horse  to  Launcelot  where  he  lay. 

Sweating  with  agony,  the  great  knight 
mounted  the  steed.  At  the  rise  of  their 
leader,  whom  they  had  thought  defeated,  the 
courage  of  Launcelot's  party  blazed  out 
afresh,  and,  with  the  knight  of  the  scarlet 
sleeve  fighting  furiously  in  front,  they  pressed 
the  Round  Table  knights  back  —  back  — 

57 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

back  to  the  very  extremity  of  the  lists. 
Another  wild  blast  of  trumpets  proclaimed 
the  unknown  knight  victor  of  the  day;  and 
his  party  cried,  "Advance  and  take  your 
prize ! " 

But  Launcelot  answered,  "  For  God's  love 
a  little  air! —  My  prize  is  death.  Hence 
will  I,  and  I  charge  you,  follow  me  not." 
So  saying,  he  and  Lavaine  vanished  from 
the  field.  The  two  made  their  way  quickly 
into  a  deep  poplar  grove,  and  rode  for  many 
weary  miles  till  they  came  to  the  cave  of  a 
hermit.  The  old  friar  took  them  in,  and 
staunched  the  blood  which  flowed  from 
Launcelot's  wound  when  the  lance-head  was 
drawn  out.  Though  this  good  hermit  had 
much  knowledge  of  healing,  and  though  he 
and  Lavaine  nursed  faithfully  the  wounded 
knight,  for  many  days  Launcelot  lay  between 
life  and  death,  nor  could  they  tell  which 
way  the  scale  would  turn. 
58 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


LAUNCELOT   AND   ELAINE 

PART  II 

Now  on  that  day  when  Launcelot  and 
Lavaine  disappeared  from  the  lists,  there  was 
great  wonder  and  pity  among  the  knights 
and  ladies  there.  The  party  which  Launce- 
lot had  so  gloriously  led  went  straightway 
to  the  King,  saying : 

"  Sire,  our  knight  through  whom  we  won 
the  day  hath  gone  sore  wounded,  and  hath 
left  his  prize  untaken,  crying  that  his  prize 
is  death." 

The  King  was  troubled.  His  great  heart 
was  filled  with  pity  that  so  good  a  knight 
was  perhaps  wounded  to  the  death  ;  then, 
too,  he  had  suspected  through  it  all  that 

59 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

the  unknown  hero  was  no  other  than  his 
best  beloved  Launcelot.  So,  taking  the 
diamond  from  the  heart  of  the  flower  where 
it  blazed,  King  Arthur  gave  it  to  Sir  Gawain, 
and  charged  him  to  ride  night  and  day  till 
he  should  find  the  knight  who  had  so  dearly 
won  it,  and  give  it  him.  And  he  charged 
Sir  Gawain  also  to  return  speedily  and  bring 
news  to  court  of  how  the  stranger  fared. 

Sir  Gawain  went  unwillingly.  The  feast- 
ing and  merry-making  at  the  joust  were  yet 
to  come,  and  he  loved  the  banquet  and  the 
company  of  great  ladies  better  than  he  loved 
the  service  of  the  King.  But  the  King  was 
king ;  and  the  knight  took  the  diamond  and 
rode  away  in  quest  of  Launcelot. 

He  passed  through  all  the  region  round, 
and  stopped  at  all  places  save  the  hermit's 
cell.  At  length,  wearied  with  fruitless 
searching,,  he  tarried  to  rest  at  the  castle 

of  Astolat 

60 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


Here  he  told  the  story  of  the  joust  to 
the  fair  Elaine,  who  well-nigh  swooned  at 
the  news  of  Launcelot's  hurt.  Then  she 
brought  him  Launcelot's  shield;  and  when 
he  saw  the  lions  thereon,  he  knew  full 
well  that  the  unknown  knight  was  indeed 
Launcelot  —  and  so  he  told  the  lily  maid. 

Gawain  was  tired  of  the  quest,  and,  be- 
lieving that  Elaine  knew  where  Sir  Launce- 
lot was  hidden,  he  persuaded  her  to  take 
the  diamond  in  keeping  for  its  owner,  and 
rode  back  to  court. 

Arrived  at  Camelot,  the  unfaithful  knight 
well  knew  that  he  must  make  some  excuse 
to  King  Arthur  for  having  left  the  diamond 
in  any  hand  save  that  to  which  the  King  had 
sent  it.  So,  relying  on  his  sovereign's  great 
deference  to  women,  Gawain  ended  the  story 
of  his  fruitless  journey  by  pretending  that 
he  thought  the  rules  of  courtesy  bound  him 

to  leave  the  diamond  with  the  maiden. 
61 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

The  "seldom-frowning"  King  frowned 
and  answered : 

"  Too  courteous,  truly !  Ye  shall  go  no 
more  on  quest  of  mine,  seeing  that  ye  forget 
obedience  is  the  courtesy  due  to  kings." 

Far  away  the  maid  of  Astolat  ever  kept 
the  image  of  Launcelot  in  her  guileless 
heart.  Day  by  day  she  watched  for  him, 
but  he  did  not  come.  At  length,  heart-sick 
with  waiting,  she  crept  to  her  father's  side 
and  besought  him  to  allow  her  to  go  in 
search  of  Lavaine.  The  old  man  guessed 
her  secret,  and  fain  would  have  detained 
her  at  home;  but  she  had  ever  been  a  petted, 
willful  child,  and  he  could  not  say  her  nay. 
So,  in  the  company  of  her  good  brother, 
Sir  Torre,  she  set  out  to  find  her  knight 
and  bear  the  diamond  to  him.  At  length, 
riding  through  a  field  of  flowers  near  the 
poplar  grove,  they  came  upon  Lavaine, 

practicing  on  his  steed. 
62 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


Right  joyful  were  they  at  the  meeting, 
and  Lavaine  guided  them  to  the  wounded 
knight  in  the  hermit's  woodland  cell.  Low 
on  a  couch  of  wolfskins  lay  the  great 
Launcelot,  gaunt  and  pain-wasted,  scarcely 
more  than  the  bare  skeleton  of  his  mighty 
self. 

With  a  dolorous  little  cry,the  maid  slipped 
down  beside  him,  and,  when  he  turned  his 
fever-kindled  eyes  upon  her,  she  held  up  the 
gem,  saying  falteringly : 

"  Your  prize,  the  diamond  sent  you  by 
the  King."  Then,  in  a  breaking  voice,  she 
told  him  of  all  the  events  which  had  fol- 
lowed upon  his  disappearance  from  the  lists. 

She  was  kneeling  by  his  side ;  and,  as  one 
might  caress  a  child,  he  kissed  her  sweet 
face,  and  turned  and  slept. 

Through  many  a  weary  day  and  many  a 
wearier  night,  the  maid  of  Astolat  watched 
over  the  mightiest  of  King  Arthur's  knights; 
63 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

and  at  length  the  hermit  told  her  that 
through  her  untiring  care  the  knight  had 
been  saved  from  death.  They  tarried  yet 
a  little  while  till  Launcelot's  hurt  was 
healed,  and  then  the  three  rode  back  to 
Astolat 

Now  after  they  were  come  to  her  father's 
castle,  Elaine  for  many  days  arrayed  herself 
in  her  loveliest  robes  —  for  Launcelot  was 
long  their  guest  —  and  sought  to  learn  if  the 
knight  returned  her  love. 

At  last  the  time  came  when  the  knight 
felt  that  he  must  leave  them  and  go  back  to 
the  service  of  the  King.  He  was  so  deeply 
grateful  for  Elaine's  tender  care  of  him  dur- 
ing his  woful  sickness,  that  he  besought  her 
to  allow  him  to  do  her  some  service  or  to 
grant  her  some  boon  in  token  of  his  grati- 
tude. He  was  lord  of  his  own  land,  he  told 
her  —  rich  and  powerful ;  and  that  what  he 
willed  he  could  perform. 
64 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


"Speak  your  wish,"  he  pleaded  —  little 
knowing  what  that  wish  would  be.  Then 
suddenly  and  passionately  she  spake: 

"  I  have  gone  mad.    I  love  you;  let  me  die ! " 

"Ah,  sister,"  cried  Launcelot,  "what  is 
this?" 

"  Your  love  —  to  be  your  wife,"  she 
answered  simply,  and  she  held  her  white 
arms  out  to  him. 

But  Launcelot  answered,  "  Had  I  chosen  to 
wed,  I  had  been  wedded  earlier,  sweet  Elaine ; 
but  now  there  never  will  be  wife  of  mine." 

And  she  said,  "  Not  to  be  with  you,  not 
to  see  your  face,  —  alas  for  me  then,  my 
good  days  are  done ! " 

Alas !  The  day  of  parting  had  come,  and 
she  who  had  loved  him  back  from  death  to 
life  had  not  won  a  dearer  name  from  him 
than  "  sister." 

Then  Launcelot  sought  to  lessen  her 
heartache,  saying  that  this  was  not  love,  but 
65 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

only  the  first  wild  fancy  of  her  youth.  He 
told  her  that  it  would  soon  give  way  to  a 
deeper,  nobler  affection  for  some  one  better 
suited  to  her  years.  And  he  promised  that 
when  she  should  thus  find  the  real  love  of 
her  life,  he,  Launcelot,  would  endow  her 
lover  with  half  his  realm  beyond  the  seas. 
And  more  than  that  —  that  he  would  be  her 
knight  in  all  her  quarrels,  even  to  the  death. 

But  the  maid  replied,  "  Of  all  this  will  I 
nothing,"  and  fell  swooning  to  the  earth. 

Now  it  chanced  that  the  lord  of  Astolat, 
wandering  in  a  grove,  heard  what  passed 
between  Elaine  and  the  knight.  He  was 
sorely  grieved  because  of  his  daughter's 
sorrow,  but  he  could  not  find  it  in  his  heart 
to  blame  Sir  Launcelot.  The  knight  had 
treated  her  with  all  tender  courtesy,  and 
since  he  could  not  love  her,  it  was  but  honor- 
able that  he  should  not  wed  her.  So  after 

the  maid  had  been  borne  to  her  chamber,  the 
66 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


father  went  to  Launcelot  and  begged  the 
knight  that  he  use  some  rough  discourtesy 
to  her,  that  she  might  cease  to  love  him. 
The  lord  of  Astolat  knew  full  well  that 
knightly  courtesy  is  quick  to  win  the  hearts 
of  maidens;  and  he  felt  that  if  Launcelot 
could  for  once  lay  aside  his  grace  of  bearing 
toward  her,  Elaine  would  conceive  a  dislike 
to  him,  and  sigh  no  more  for  his  love. 

It  was  not  in  the  nature  of  Launcelot  to 
do  an  unknightly  act,  but  seeing  the  wisdom 
and  the  real  kindness  in  such  a  course,  he 
promised  to  try. 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  he  called 
for  his  horse  and  armor,  and  prepared  to 
leave  for  the  court  of  King  Arthur.  Elaine 
uncased  his  shield  and  sent  it  down  to  him. 
Then  she  flung  her  casement  wide  and 
looked  down  to  see  Launcelot  ride  away. 
She  knew  he  had  heard  her  unclasp  and 
open  the  casement,  but  the  knight  did  not 
67 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

look  up.  Without  so  much  as  a  glance  or 
a  wave  of  the  hand  in  farewell,  he  mounted 
and  rode  sadly  away.  "  This  was  the  one 
discourtesy  that  he  used." 

The  shadow  of  a  great  sorrow  settled  down 
upon  Astolat.  No  more  the  lily  maid  with 
light  and  joyous  step  flitted  up  and  down  the 
narrow  turret  stair.  No  more  her  laughter 
rang  among  the  gray  walls  of  the  castle. 
High  in  her  tower  to  the  east  she  gazed  upon 
the  empty  shield-case,  while  her  sighs  echoed 
the  moanings  of  the  wind  outside.  And  in 
those  days  she  made  a  little  song  — "  The 
*Song  of  Love  and  Death"  she  called  it  —  and 
sang  it  there  among  the  shadows  all  alone. 

"  Sweet  is  true  love  tho'  given  in  vain,  in  vain ; 
And  sweet  is  death  who  puts  an  end  to  pain ; 
I  know  not  which  is  sweeter,  no,  not  I. 

I  fain  would  follow  love,  if  that  could  be ; 
I  needs  must  follow  death,  who  calls  for  me; 
Call  and  I  follow,  I  follow  !     Let  me  die." 
68 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


Her  clear  voice,  rising  high  on  the  last 
note,  rang  like  a  wild  sweet  cry  through- 
out the  castle,  and  her  brothers,  shudder- 
ing, said,  "  Hark,  the  phantom  of  the  house 
that  ever  shrieks  before  a  death  1 "  For  in 
those  days  there  dwelt  in  each  house  a  spirit 
that  shrieked  shrilly  and  fearfully  whenever 
the  death  of  a  member  of  that  household 
was  nigh.  The  lord  of  Astolat  and  his  two 
sons  hastened  to  the  east  tower,  and  found 
Elaine  already  with  the  shadow  of  death  in 
her  eyes.  Then  was  there  great  mourning 
among  them. 

Elaine  gave  a  pale,  little  hand  to  each  of 
her  brothers  and  recalled  to  them  their  child- 
hood: how  they  had  often  taken  her  on  a 
barge  far  up  the  great  river;  how  they 
would  not  pass  beyond  the  cape  with  the 
poplar  on  it,  though  she  cried  to  go  on  and 
find  the  palace  of  the  King.  And  she  told 
them  that  she  had  last  night  dreamed  a 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

dream ;  in  which  she  -thought  herself  alone 
upon  the  tide,  with  the  childish  wish  still 
in  her  heart;  that  she  had  waked  to  feel 
the  longing  again.  And  she  begged  them 
to  let  her  go  thence,  beyond  the  poplar  and 
far  up  the  flood,  that  she  might  find  rest  at 
last  in  the  palace  of  the  King. 

Then  came  a  holy  priest  and  ministered 
to  her  spirit ;  and  when  he  had  passed  from 
thence,  the  maid  besought  Lavaine  to  write 
for  her  a  letter  to  Sir  Launcelot.  Her  sor- 
rowing brother  wrote  as  she  bade  him,  and 
offered  to  bear  the  letter  to  the  knight.  But 
she  answered : 

"  I  myself  must  bear  it."  While  they  mar- 
veled, she  told  them  that  when  death  should 
come  to  her,  they  must  place  the  letter  in 
her  hand  and  send  her  up  the  flood,  with 
only  the  dumb  old  serving-man  to  row  her. 
She  told  them  also  how  they  should  deck 

her  body  and  the  barge  which  was  to  bear 
70 


Launcclot  and  Elaine 


her  to  the  King;  and  her  father,  weeping, 
promised  her. 

Ten  sad  mornings  passed,  and  on  the 
eleventh  her  father  placed  the  letter  in  her 
hand  and  closed  her  fingers  on  it,  and  that 
day  she  died. 

And  they  placed  her  on  the  barge,  with 
the  dumb  old  servitor,  and  sent  her  up  the 
shining  flood  to  find  the  palace  of  the  King 
—  even  as  they  had  promised. 

Great  was  the  wonder  at  the  palace  that 
day,  when  the  black-draped  barge  stopped 
at  the  foot  of  the  marble  steps  which  led 
down  to  the  water's  edge.  Fairer  than  any- 
thing they  had  dreamed  of  lay  the  beautiful 
dead.  In  her  right  hand  was  clasped  a  lily, 
and  in  her  left,  the  letter  to  Sir  Launcelot. 
The  barge  was  draped  in  black  from  prow 
to  stern ;  but  the  fair  girl  was  covered  with 
cloth  of  gold  drawn  to  her  waist,  and  decked 
with  the  shining  glory  of  her  golden  hair. 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

She  did  not  seem  as  dead,  but  only  fast 
asleep,  and  "  lay  as  though  she  smiled." 

The  guards  of  the  palace  and  the  people, 
gaping,  stood  around,  and  whispered,  "  What 
is  it  ?  "  Then  gazing  on  the  silent  boatman's 
face,  they  said : 

"  He  is  enchanted,  cannot  speak  —  and 
she,  look  how  she  sleeps  —  the  Fairy  Queen 
so  fair!" 

Then  was  there  great  trouble  in  their  hearts; 
for  it  had  been  prophesied  that  the  King 
would  not  die,  but  would  pass  into  fairyland. 
And  many  feared  that  this  was  a  fairy  barge, 
come  to  bear  their  King  away  from  them. 

While  thus  they  marveled,  King  Arthur 
and  many  of  his  knights  came  down  to  the 
water's  edge  to  see. 

The  dumb  boatman  stood  up  and  pointed 
to  the  dead. 

The  King  caused  two  of  his  purest  knights 

to  uplift  the  maiden  and  bear  her  into  the 
72 


Launcelot  and  Elaine 


palace.  Then  came  they  all  to  see  her  — 
and  even  Launcelot,  whom  she  had  loved. 

King  Arthur  took  the  letter  from  her  hand 
and  read  it  aloud  in  all  that  company.  It 
was  the  strange,  sweet  story  of  her  love  and 
death ;  and  recounted  how,  because  her 
knight  had  left  her,  taking  no  farewell,  she 
had  come  thus  to  take  her  last  farewell  of 
him.  The  letter  ended  with  an  appeal  to 
Launcelot  to  pray  for  her  soul. 

All  eyes  turned  on  Launcelot,  many  of 
them  reprovingly.  But  the  sorrowful  knight 
lifted  up  his  voice,  and  told  them  the  whole 
sad  story  of  the  maiden's  love  for  him,  and 
why  he  had  left  her,  bidding  no  farewell. 
When  he  had  finished,  no  man  blamed  him 
more. 

Then,  by  order  of  the  King,  they  bore  the 

lily  maid   to  the  richest   shrine   in  all    the 

realm,  there  to  hold  burial  service  over  her. 

The  King  himself  led  the  funeral  train,  and 

73 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

all  the  knights  of  the  Table  Round  followed 
him,  in  martial  order.  And  King  Arthur 
caused  a  tomb  to  be  opened  for  Elaine 
among  the  royal  dead. 

Then,  "  with  gorgeous  obsequies,  and 
mass,  and  rolling  music,"  as  for  a  queen, 
they  laid  her  golden  head  "  low  in  the  dust 
of  half-forgotten  kings."  And  Launcelot, 
sorrowing,  cried: 

"  Farewell  —  now  at  last !  " 


74 


TJie  Holy  Grail 


THE    HOLY   GRAIL 

THUS  runs  an  ancient  legend:  When 
our  blessed  Saviour  hung  upon  the  cross, 
Joseph  of  Arimathea,  one  of  his  loving  fol- 
lowers, brought  a  crystal  bowl  and  caught 
the  blood  which  fell  from  the  Master's 
wounded  side.  This  bowl,  or  cup,  was  the 
"  Holy  Grail,"  and  was  the  same  from  which 
our  Lord  had  drunk  at  the  Last  Supper  with 
his  disciples. 

In  the  long,  dark  days  of  persecution 
which  followed  the  passion  of  Christ,  Joseph 
was  driven  out  of  the  Holy  Land,  and  took 
refuge  in  the  desolate  island  of  Britain. 
Here  the  heathen  prince,  "  Aviragus,"  granted 
him  a  marshy  spot  in  Glastonbury  wherein 
to  dwell. 

75 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

The  day  of  miracles  had  not  yet  passed, 
and  the  good  Joseph  asked  for  a  sign  from 
God  by  which  to  know  if  here  were  a  fitting 
place  to  found  a  church  of  the  true  faith. 
After  much  fasting  and  prayer,  he  planted  his 
dry  and  hardened  pilgrim  staff  in  the  ground 
one  mid- winter  night  —  and  lo!  on  the  mor- 
row it  was  crowned  with  leaves  and  flowers, 
as  a  sign  of  how  the  faith  of  Christ  would 
blossom  in  this  barren,  heathen  land.  And 
ever  since  that  time  the  winter  thorn  blos- 
soms at  Christmas  in  memory  of  our  Lord. 

Now  Joseph  had  brought  the  Holy  Grail 
to  Britain  with  him,  and  for  many  years  the 
precious  vessel  remained  on  earth  to  bless 
mankind.  So  potent  was  it  for  good,  that 
all  who  beheld  or  touched  it  were  freed  from 
whatsoever  ills  afflicted  them. 

However,  the  times  grew  evil,  and  the 
Holy  Cup  was  snatched  away  to  heaven; 

and  for   many   weary   decades    of    sin    and 
76 


The  Holy  Grail 


suffering  its  healing  powers  were  lost  to 
the  world. 

In  the  time  of  King  Arthur,  when 
Arimathean  Joseph  had  been  sleeping  under 
the  winter  thorn  at  Glastonbury  for  four 
hundred  years,  there  awoke  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people  the  hope  that  the  holy  vessel 
would  return  to  earth  to  bless  the  high 
efforts  of  their  great  and  good  King. 

Chiefest  among  those  who  longed  for  the 
return  of  the  Grail,  was  the  gentle  sister  of 
Sir  Percivale,  a  pure  and  spotless  maiden 
who  had  withdrawn  from  the  world  to  the 
sheltering  peace  of  a  convent.  This  sweet- 
eyed  nun  had  heard  the  story  of  the  Holy 
Grail  from  the  priest  to  whom  she  confessed 
her  sins,  and  ever  after  spent  her  days  in 
prayer  that  it  might  come  again. 

"  O  Father,  might  it  come  to  me  by 
prayer  and  fasting  ? "  she  had  asked.  And 
the  priest  had  replied,  "  Nay,  I  know  not." 

77 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

But  after  many  days  her  heart's  wish  was 
granted.  For  one  night  as  she  lay  sleeping 
in  her  narrow  convent  cell,  she  was  wakened 
by  a  sound  as  of  silver  horns  blown  over  the 
far  distant  hills.  At  first  she  thought  of 
hunters;  but  as  the  mists  of  sleep  cleared 
from  her  brain,  she  realized  that  no  harp  or 
horn  or  anything  of  mortal  make  could  wake 
those  heavenly  sounds.  As  she  lay  thus, 
listening  to  the  bugle  call  from  Paradise, 
there  streamed  through  her  cell  a  cold  and 
silver  beam,  adown  whose  radiance  glided 
the  Holy  Grail,  uncovered.  Rose-red  it  shone, 
with  a  glory  that  was  not  of  earth,  and  the 
white  walls  and  all  around  crimsoned  in 
reflection  of  its  blessed  light.  Then  the 
music  faded,  the  vision  passed,  and  the  rosy 
quiverings  died  into  the  night. 

On  the  morrow,  the  gentle  nun  spake  to 
her  brother    Percivale,   saying,  "  The   Holy 
Thing  is  here  again  among  us,  brother;  fast 
78 


The  Holy  Grail 


thou  too  and  pray,  and  tell  thy  brother  knights 
to  fast  and  pray,  that  so  perchance  the  vision 
may  be  seen  by  thee  and  those,  and  all  the 
world  be  healed." 

Very  great  was  the  wonder  in  Camelot  when 
Sir  Percivale's  sister  told  of  her  vision  of  the 
Holy  Grail.  Far  and  wide  the  news  was  spread, 
and  there  was  much  rejoicing  that  the  blessed 
cup  had  come  down  again  to  the  children  of 
men. 

Now  there  had  recently  come  into  King 
Arthur's  court  a  bright  boy-knight  by  the 
name  of  Galahad.  He  had  been  reared  by 
the  nuns  in  a  convent  hard  by;  but  none 
knew  whence  he  came,  and  many  were  the 
surmises  concerning  his  origin. 

Clad  in  white  armor  from  top  to  toe,  with 
locks  of  gold  and  a  face  of  angel  sweetness, 
Galahad  moved  among  the  Round  Table 
knights,  a  spirit  of  faith  and  purity. 

"God  make  thee  good  as  thou  art  beautiful" 
79 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

King  Arthur  had  said  when  he  made  him 
knight;  and  the  prayer  was  not  in  vain,  for 
the  flawless  purity  of  Galahad's  beautiful  face 
was  but  the  visible  expression  of  a  soul  as  fair. 

Now  it  came  to  pass  that  when  this  nun 
beheld  Sir  Galahad,  she  cut  off  her  shin- 
ing locks  and  braided  therefrom  a  strong 
sword-belt.  And  she  bound  it  on  him,  say- 
ing, "  Go  forth,  for  thou  shalt  see  what 
I  have  seen,  and  break  thro'  all,  till  one 
will  crown  thee  king,  far  in  the  spiritual 
city."  And  the  glorified  light  of  her  eyes 
passed  into  his  soul,  and  he  believed  in 
her  belief. 

At  the  Round  Table  of  King  Arthur  there 
was  one  seat  which  no  man  dared  to  occupy. 
"  The  Siege  Perilous,"  Merlin  had  called  it, 
when  he  fashioned  it  with  strange  inscription 
and  device.  Perilous  —  because  none  but 
the  pure  might  sit  therein  in  safety.  Many, 
who  had  deemed  themselves  above  reproach, 
80 


THE   NUN  AND  GALAHAD 


Tfie  Holy  Grail 


had  come  to  grievous  misfortune  by  attempt- 
ing to  occupy  that  "siege."  The  great 
Merlin  himself  had  once  dared  its  powers, 
and  had  been  swallowed  up  for  evermore. 

But  Galahad,  when  he  heard  of  Merlin's 
doom,  cried,  "  If  I  lose  myself,  I  save  my- 
self ! "  This  came  to  pass  on  a  summer 
night  when  a  great  banquet  had  been  pre- 
pared in  Arthur's  hall,  and  the  knights  were 
assembled  for  feasting.  The  bold  Sir  Gala- 
had took  his  seat  in  the  Siege  Perilous.  The 
wondering  company  looked  to  see  some 
dread  judgment  smite  him  down,  and  mar- 
veled much  when  no  evil  thing  befell.  Some- 
thing wonderful  did  come  to  pass  though  — 
something  so  wonderful  that  all  that  knightly 
company  were  stricken  dumb  as  they  beheld. 
Scarcely  had  Sir  Galahad  taken  seat,  when 
there  came  a  dreadful  sound  as  if  the  roof 
above  them  were  riven  in  pieces.  A  fearful 

blast  swept  down  upon  the  castle,  and  awful 

Si 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

thunders  boomed  along  the  sky ;  and  in  that 
pealing  was  a  cry  which  no  man  might 
interpret.  Suddenly  there  streamed  along 
the  hall  a  beam  of  light  "seven  times  more 
clear  than  day,"  and  adown  that  clear  beam 
moved  the  Holy  Grail.  Not  as  to  the  pious 
nun  —  clear  and  uncovered  —  did  it  come 
to  these  men  of  might.  A  luminous  cloud 
veiled  it  from  their  eyes,  and  none  might 
see  who  bore  it. 

While  yet  the  vision  lingered,  each  knight 
beheld  his  fellow's  face  as  in  a  glory,  and 
they  arose  from  their  seats,  staring  dumbly 
at  each  other. 

When  the  Holy  Thing  passed  from  them 
and  the  light  faded  and  the  thunder  ceased, 
they  found  their  tongues  again. 

Sir  Percivale  was  the  first  to  lift  up  his 
voice;  and  he  sware  before  them  all  that, 
because  he  had  not  seen  the  Grail  uncovered, 

he  would  ride  a  twelvemonth  and  a  day  in 
82 


TJie  Holy  Grail 


quest  of  it.  Then  knight  by  knight  the 
others  followed  the  example  of  Percivale; 
and  took  his  vow  upon  themselves. 

Now,  by  a  sad  mischance,  King  Arthur  was 
not  among  his  own  when  the  vision  of  the 
veiled  cup  passed  before  them  and  they  sware 
the  solemn  vow  to  ride  a  twelvemonth  and  a 
day  until  they  saw  the  Grail,  uncovered.  He 
had  journeyed  to  a  remote  part  of  his  king- 
dom to  right  some  wrong,  and  returned  Justin 
time  to  find  the  vision  passed  and  his  strangely 
excited  knights  in  tumult  —  some  vowing, 
some  protesting.  He  spake  to  the  nearest 
knight,  saying,  "  Percivale,  what  is  this  ? " 

Then  Percivale  told  him  what  had  come 
to  pass,  and  how  the  knights  had  vowed  their 
vows  because  they  wished  to  see  the  holy 
vessel,  uncovered. 

But  the  King  exclaimed, 

"  Woe  is  me,  my  knights !     Had   I  been 
here,  ye  had  not  sworn  the  vow." 
83 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

Then  the  bold  Sir  Percivale  — 

"  Had  thyself  been  here,  my  King,  thou 
wouldst  have  sworn  !  " 

"  Art  thou  so  bold  and  has  not  seen 
the  Grail?"  replied  King  Arthur.  Percivale 
answered  him, 

"  Nay,  lord,  I  heard  the  sound,  I  saw  the 
light,  but  since  I  did  not  see  the  Holy  Thing, 
I  sware  a  vow  to  follow  it  till  I  saw." 

The  King  then  asked  them,  knight  by 
knight,  if  any  had  seen  it ;  but  all  replied, 

"  Nay,  lord,  and  therefore  have  we  sworn 


our  vows." 


"  Lo,  now,"  said  the  King,  "  have  ye  seen  a 
cloud?  What  go  ye  into  the  wilderness  to 
see?" 

Then  on  a  sudden  the  clear  voice  of 
Galahad  rang  from  the  other  end  of  the  hall : 

"I,  Sir  Arthur,  saw  the  Holy  Grail.  I 
saw  the  Holy  Grail  and  heard  a  cry  —  'O 

Galahad,  and  O  Galahad,  follow  me !   ' 

84 


The  Holy  Grail 


"Ah,  Galahad,  Galahad,"  said  the  King, 
"for  such  as  thou  art  is  the  vision,  not  for 
these ! "  And  he  spake  to  his  knights  at 
length,  and  strove  to  show  them  how  unfitted 
were  such  men  for  such  a  quest ;  how  much 
more  necessary  it  was  for  them  to  be  in  their 
places  at  his  side  —  quick  to  see  the  evil 
everywhere  and  strong  to  strike  it  down  — 
than  abroad  in  the  land,  "following  wander- 
ing fires." 

But  he  had  ever  taught  his  knights  that 
"man's  word  is  God  in  man,"  and  he  ended 
sadly,  saying, 

"  Go,  since  your  vows  are  sacred,  being 
made." 

On  the  morrow  the  knights  prepared  them 
for  their  journeys,  after  holding  a  farewell 
tournament,  in  which  Sir  Percivale  and  Sir 
Galahad  did  many  mighty  deeds  of  arms. 

Great  was  the  mourning  throughout  Game- 
lot  when  the  people  learned  that  their  beloved 

85 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

protectors  and  champions  were  to  be  lost 
to  them  for  many  days.  A  great  crowd 
gathered  to  see  the  knights  depart;  and 
Queen  Guinevere  cried  aloud, 

"  This  madness  has  come  on  us  for  our 
sins !  "  Alas,  poor  Queen  !  It  was  into  her 
own  heart  that  she  looked;  for  she  had  not 
proved  a  loving  wife  to  Arthur,  nor  a  good 
queen  to  the  land  of  Britain,  nor  a  true 
woman  in  the  sight  of  God. 

Then  he  who  had  built  up  the  high  order 
of  the  Table  Round  —  who  had  redeemed  a 
broad  kingdom  from  wild  beasts  and  heathen 
hordes  —  who  had  struggled  to  revive  in 
man  the  image  of  his  Maker  —  sat  in  empty 
halls.  Misfortune  and  sorrow  and  treason 
crept  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  blameless 
King,  and  his  Round  Table  knights  were 
abroad  in  the  land,  "following  wandering 
fires." 


86 


The  Holy  Grail 


SIR  BORS 

"...  Sir  Bors  it  was 

Who  spake  so  low  and  sadly  at  our  board ; 
And  mighty  reverent  at  our  grace  was  he." 

Thus  the  poet  'describes  the  gentle  cousin 
of  Launcelot.  Of  all  the  Round  Table 
knights,  Sir  Bors  was  the  most  quiet  and 
the  most  unassuming.  He  too  had  sworn  to 
follow  the  Holy  Grail,  but  in  such  humble- 
ness of  spirit  that  he  felt  "  if  God  would  send 
the  vision,  well;  if  not,  the  Quest  and  he 
were  in  the  hands  of  heaven." 

Now  it  chanced  that  Sir  Bors  rode  to  the 
"  lonest  tract  of  all  the  realm,"  and  found  there 
among  the  crags  a  heathen  people, whose  tem- 
ples were  great  circles  of  stone,  and  whose 
wise  men,  by  their  magic  arts,  could  trace 
the  wanderings  of  the  stars  in  the  heavens. 

Much  these  strange  people  questioned 
Bors  of  his  coming ;  and  when  he  told  them 
87 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

of  the  Quest,  and  talked  boldly  of  a  God 
they  knew  not,  their  priests  became  offended, 
and  caused  him  to  be  seized  and  bound  and 
cast  into  prison. 

Now  the  cell  into  which  he  was  cast  was 
loosely  fashioned  of  huge  stones,  but  so 
massive  were  these  rocks  no  human  hand 
could  move  them. 

All  day  long  he  lay  in  utter  darkness,  but 
when  the  silence  of  night  came,  one  of  the 
great  stones  slipped  from  its  place,  as  if  by 
miracle.  Through  the  opening  thus  made, 
Bors  could  behold  the  sky  above  him  as  he 
lay  bound  on  the  floor.  The  seven  clear 
stars  of  Arthur's  Round  Table  looked  down 
upon  him  "like  the  bright  eyes  of  familiar 
friends,"  and  exceeding  peace  fell  upon  his 
troubled  spirit. 

All  at  once,  across  the  stars,  a  rosy  color 
passed,  and  in  it  glowed  the  Holy  Grail,  un- 
covered! The  vision  faded;  but  its  blessed 
88 


The  Holy  Grail 


radiance  lingered  long  in  the  heart  of  the  man 
who  lay  bound  to  the  rocks  for  the  truth's  sake. 
In  a  little  while  a  maiden,  who,  among  her 
pagan  kindred,  held  the  true  faith  in  secret, 
stole  in  and  loosed  the  cords  which  bound 
him,  and  set  him  free. 

• 
SIR  LAUNCELOT 

Alas  for  the  knight  whom  Arthur  loved 
and  honored  most!  Evil  came  to  Launce- 
lot,  and  he  opened  his  once  pure  and  loyal 
heart  and  let  it  in.  Then  came  a  long,  dark 
struggle  between  his  baser  and  his  better 
self  —  a  fight  so  evenly  waged  and  so  des- 
perate, that  a  mighty  madness  would  some- 
times seem  to  possess  him,  and  he  would  fly 
from  the  haunts  of  men,  to  return,  wasted 
and  gaunt  with  the  struggle. 

While  thus  in  secret  Launcelot  harbored 

the  sin  that  he  both  loved  and  hated,  the 
89 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

knights  took  upon  themselves  the  quest  of  the 
Holy  Grail;  and  he  sware  with  the  others, 
in  the  hope  that  he  might  find  the  Holy 
Thing,  and  thus  be  healed  of  his  grievous 
sin. 

So  he  too  went  forth ;  but  while  he  yearned 
and  strove  and  suffered,  his  madness  came 
upon  him  once  again,  and  whipt  him  into 
waste  fields  far  away,  where  he  was  beaten 
down  by  little  men.  Then  he  came  in  his 
shame  and  sorrow  to  a  naked  shore,  where  a 
fierce  blast  was  blowing.  He  found  there  a 
blackened  bark,  anchored.  He  entered  it  and 
loosed  the  chains  which  fastened  it,  saying, 

"  I  will  embark  and  I  will  lose  myself, 
and  in  the  great  sea  wash  away  my  sin." 
Seven  days  the  vessel  drove  along  the 
stormy  deep;  but  on  the  seventh  night  the 
wind  fell,  and  the  boat  grated  on  a  rocky  coast. 

Looking  up,  Launcelot  beheld  the-  en- 
chanted towers  of  Castle  Carbonek  "  like  a 
90 


LAUNCELOT  BEHOLDS  THE  TOWERS  OF  CASTLE  CARBONEK 


TIic  Holy  Grail 


rock  upon  a  rock"  above  him.  He  disem- 
barked and  entered  the  castle.  Two  great 
lions  guarded  the  way,  and  made  as  though 
they  would  rend  him  in  pieces,  but  a  voice 
said  to  him, 

"  Doubt  not,  go  forward  !  "  And  into  the 
sounding  hall  he  passed,  unharmed.  And 
always,  as  he  moved  about  the  lonely  place,  he 
heard,  clear  as  a  lark  and  high  above,  a  sweet 
voice  singing  in  the  topmost  tower.  Then  up 
and  up  the  steps  he  climbed — and  seemed 
to  climb  forever.  But  at  length  he  reached  a 
door:  a  light  gleamed  through  the  crannies, 
and  he  heard  in  heavenly  voices  sung, 
"Glory  and  joy  and  honor  to  our  Lord, 
And  to  the  Holy  Vessel  of  the  Grail  ! " 

Then  in  his  mad  longing,  he  flung  himself 
against  the  door.  It  gave  way,  and  for  one 
instant  he  thought  he  saw  the  Holy  Grail, 
veiled  in  red  samite,  with  kneeling  angels 
around. 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

But  a  heat  as  from  a  seven  times  heated 
furnace  smote  him,  and  he  swooned  away. 

When  he  returned  to  Camelot  —  he  knew 
not  how  —  he  sadly  told  the  King, 

"  What  I  saw  was  veiled  and  covered ;  this 
Quest  was  not  for  me." 


SIR  PERCIVALE 

In  that  last  tournament  which  was  held 
before  the  knights  departed  on  the  Quest, 
Percivale  had  done  many  doughty  deeds  of 
arms:  so  when  he  rode  from  Camelot,  his 
hopes  were  high  and  his  spirit  was  proud. 
"  Never  heaven  appear'd  so  blue,  nor  earth  so 
green";  for  in  his  pride  and  strength  he  was 
sure  that  he  would  find  the  Holy  Grail. 

But  as  he  rode,  the  King's  dark  prophecy 
that  most  of  them  would  follow  wandering 
fires,  came  to  him,  again  and  again,  and 

seemed  to  make  the  day  less  fair. 
92 


The  Holy  Grail 


Then  every  evil  word  that  he  had  spoken, 
and  every  evil  thought  that  he  had  harbored, 
and  every  evil  deed  that  he  had  done,  rose 
up  within  him,  crying, 

"  This  Quest  is  not  for  thee !  " 

On  he  rode,  and  diverse  and  strange  were 
the  adventures  that  befell  him.  For  many  a 
weary  day  he  seemed  to  be  mocked  by  the 
phantoms  of  a  feverish  dream.  Hungry  and 
thirsty,  he  pressed  toward  flowing  streams 
beside  which  gorgeous  apples  grew ;  but 
when  he  put  the  fruit  to  his  lips,  it  withered 
and  crumbled  into  dust.  Homelike  scenes 
appeared  before  his  tired  eyes,  only  to  fall  into 
dust  as  he  approached.  Then  the  vision  of  a 

great  armored  horseman,  splendid  as  the  sun, 

• 

came  riding  down  upon  him  and  opened  its 

arms  as  if  to  clasp  him,  but  it  too  fell  away  to 

dust     Again  he  heard  a  voice  calling  to  him, 

"  Welcome,  Percivale,  thou  mightiest  and 

thou   purest    among   men ! "     And,  seeking 

93 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

the  voice,  he  rode  on  till  he  reached  a  splen- 
did city  on  the  summit  of  a  great  hill. 

But  when  he  gained  the  height,  he  found 
the  city  deserted,  with  but  one  man  there  — 
aged  and  poor  —  to  welcome  him.  Alas ! 
Even  the  old  man — in  greeting  him  —  fell 
into  dust  and  vanished  from  sight.  Then 
Percivale  cried  in  despair, 

"  Lo,  if  I  find  the  Holy  Grail  itself  and 
touch  it,  it  will  crumble  into  dust ! " 

In  his  disappointment  he  rode  down  into 
a  quiet  vale,  deep  as  the  hill  was  high,  and 
sought  the  advice  of  a  holy  man  who  dwelt  in 
a  hermitage  hard  by  a  little  chapel.  When 
the  knight  had  told  of  all  his  distracting 
visions,  the  good  man  said, 

"  O  son,  thou  hast  not  true  humility,  the 
highest  virtue,  mother  of  them  all.  Thou 
hast  not  lost  thyself  to  save  thyself,  as 
Galahad." 


94 


77/6*  Holy  Grail 


SIR  GALAHAD 

Though  his  arm  had  been  strongest  in  the 
farewell  tournament,  Galahad  rode  out  of 
Camelot'with  his  young  heart  fired  by  higher 
glories  than  his  own.  Purer  joys  than  all 
earthly  fame  could  give,  were  pulsing  through 
his  heart;  a  flutter  of  wings  was  in  the  air, 
and  angel  voices  whispered, 

"  O  just  and  faithful  knight  of  God,  ride 
on!  The  prize  is  near." 

And  it  was  near.  So  near  that  through 
all  his  earthly  wanderings  it  went  before  him 
like  a  guiding  star,  always  visible  to  him. 
In  Arthur's  hall  he  had  seen  the  Grail, 
uncovered.  By  night  and  day,  on  naked 
mountain-top  or  in  the  sleeping  mere  below, 
in  blackened  marsh  or  on  crimson  battle- 
field, the  cup  of  God  shone  before  his  eyes. 

God  did  make  him  good  as  he  was  beauti- 
ful ;  and  by  the  almighty  power  of  goodness 
95 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

he  rode  through  all  the  land,  shattering  evil 
customs  as  he  went.  He  passed  through 
pagan  realms  and  made  them  his ;  he  clashed 
with  heathen  hordes  and  bore  them  down; 
he  broke  through  all,  and  in  the  strength  of 
faith,  came  forth  victor. 

Now  it  came  to  pass  that  while  Percivale 
yet  abode  in  the  Vale  of  Humility,  Galahad 
appeared  before  him  in  shining  silver  armor. 
The  two  made  great  joy  of  each  other,  and 
they  and  the  old  hermit  went  into  the  little 
chapel  to  kneel  in  prayer  and  partake  of  the 
Lord's  Supper. 

While  they  were  yet  kneeling,  the  Holy 
Grail  came  down  upon  the  shrine,  and  the 
face  of  the  Christ-child  descended  and  dis- 
appeared into  the  sacred  elements.  But 
only  Galahad's  eyes  were  open  to  the 
vision. 

Then    he    told   them    that    his    time    was 

near  at  hand;  that  he  would  go  thence,  and 
96 


GALAHAD  RIDES   OUT   OF   CAMELOT 


T/te  Holy  Grail 


one  would  crown  him  king  "far  in  the 
spiritual  city."  And  he  said  to  the  saddened 
Percivale, 

"  Thou  shalt  see  the  vision  when  I  go." 
When  the  day  began  to  wane,  he  and  Per- 
civale departed  thence  and  climbed  to  the 
top  of  a  high  hill.  A  fierce  storm  arose,  and 
lightnings  lit  and  relit  the  shining  armor  of 
Galahad  and  fired  the  dead  trunks  of  trees 
around.  They  passed  on,  and  came  at  length 
to  a  great  marsh  which  ran  out  into  the  yet 
greater  sea.  And  behold  !  there  appeared  a 
seemingly  endless  bridge  that  stretched  out, 
pier  after  pier,  into  eternity. 

Then  lo,  a  wondrous  thing!  Galahad 
leaped  upon  the  bridge  and  sped  along  its 
shining  length ;  and  as  he  passed,  span  after 
span  of  the  bridge  sprang  into  fire  behind 
him,  so  that  the  bold  Sir  Percivale,  who  fain 
would  have  followed,  could  only  stand  and 
behold.  But  glorious  was  the  vision  at 
97 


King  ArtJmr  and  His  Court 

last  vouchsafed  to  Percivale's  aching  eyes. 
Thrice  above  the  head  of  Galahad  "  the 
heavens  opened  and  blazed  with  thunder 
such  as  seemed  shoutings  of  all  the  sons  of 
God."  His  armor  glistened  like  a  silver 
star  above  the  great  sea,  and  the  Grail,  now 
all  uncovered,  hung  like  a  burning  jewel 
o'er  his  head. 

Then  far  in  the  distance,  somewhere, 
where  sea  and  sky  met,  rose  the  spiritual 
city ;  and  Galahad  and  the  Holy  Thing 
passed  in  together,  to  be  seen  no  more  of 
men. 

Only  a  tithe  of  the  searchers  returned  to 
Camelot  —  to  a  saddened  King  in  a  decay- 
ing city.  Of  those  who  did  come  back,  the 
greater  number  had  grown  cold,  and  careless 
of  the  Quest. 

The  mightiest  of  King  Arthur's  knights 
had  seen  the  Grail,  but  not  unveiled,  and 

scarce  could  say  he  saw ;  two  of  the  truest 
98 


Ttie  Holy  Grail 


and  bravest  had  beheld  the  holy  cup  in  fleet- 
ing visions  and  from  afar  off;  but  Galahad 
had  been  crowned  king,  far  in  the  spiritual 
city. 

Verily,  King  Arthur  knew  his  knights 
when  he  cried, 

"Ah,  Galahad,  Galahad,  for  such  as  thou 
art  is  the  vision,  not  for  such  as  these ! " 

SIR   GALAHAD 

ALFRED  TENNYSON 

My  good  blade  carves  the  casques  of  men, 

My  tough  lance  thrusteth  sure, 
My  strength  is  as  the  strength  of  ten, 

Because  my  heart  is  pure. 
The  shattering  trumpet  shrilleth  high, 

The  hard  brands  shiver  on  the  steel, 
The  splinter'd  spear-shafts  crack  and  fly, 

The  horse  and  rider  reel ; 
They  reel,  they  roll  in  clanging  lists, 

And  when  the  tide  of  combat  stands, 
Perfume  and  flowers  fall  in  showers, 

That  lightly  rain  from  ladies'  hands. 
99 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

How  sweet  are  looks  that  ladies  bend 

On  whom  their  favors  fall ! 
For  them  I  battle  till  the  end, 

To  save  from  shame  and  thrall : 
But  all  my  heart  is  drawn  above, 

My  knees  are  bow'd  in  crypt  and  shrine 
I  never  felt  the  kiss  of  love, 

Nor  maiden's  hand  in  mine. 
More  bounteous  aspects  on  me  beam, 

Me  mightier  transports  move  and  thrill  ; 
So  keep  I  fair  thro'  faith  and  prayer 

A  virgin  heart  in  work  and  will. 

When  down  the  stormy  crescent  goes, 

A  light  before  me  swims. 
Between  dark  stems  the  forest  glows, 

I  hear  a  noise  of  hymns : 
Then  by  some  secret  shrine  I  ride ; 

I  hear  a  voice,  but  none  are  there ; 
The  stalls  are  void,  the  doors  are  wide, 

The  tapers  burning  fair. 
Fair  gleams  the  snowy  altar  cloth, 

The  silver  vessels  sparkle  clean 
The  shrill  bell  rings,  the  censer  swings, 

And  solemn  chants  resound  between. 
100 


"THREE  ANGELS   BEAR  THE   HOLY   GRAIL 


T/ic  Holy  Grin  I 


Sometimes  on  lonely  mountain-meres 

I   find  a  magic  bark ; 
I  leap  on  board  :   no  helmsman  steers : 

I  float  till  all  is  dark. 
A  gentle  sound,  an  awful  light  ! 

Three  angels  bear  the  Holy  Grail : 
With  folded  feet,  in  stoles  of  white, 

On  sleeping  wings  they  sail. 
Ah,  blessed  vision  !  blood  of  God  ! 

My  spirit  beats  her  mortal  bars, 
As  down  dark  tides  the  glory  slides, 

And  star-like  mingles  with  the  stars. 

When  on  my  goodly  charger  borne 

Thro'  dreaming  towns  I  go, 
The  cock  crows  ere  the  Christmas  morn, 

The  streets  are  dumb  with  snow. 
The  tempest  crackles  on  the  leads, 

And,  ringing,  springs  from  brand  and  mail; 
But  o'er  the  dark  a  glory  spreads, 

And  gilds  the  driving  hail. 
I  leave  the  plain,   I  climb  the  height ; 

No  branchy  thicket  shelter  yields; 
But  blessed  forms  in  whistling  storms 

Fly  o'er  waste  fens  and  windy  fields. 
JOI 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

A  maiden  knight  —  to  me  is  given 

Such  hope,   I  know  not  fear ; 
I  yearn  to  breathe  the  airs  of  heaven 

That  often  meet  me  here. 
I  muse  on  joy  that  will  not  cease, 

Pure  spaces  clothed  in  living  beams, 
Pure  lilies  of  eternal  peace, 

Whose  odors  h^unt  my  dreams ; 
And,  stricken  by  an  angel's  hand 

This  mortal  armor  that  I  wear, 
This  weight  and  size,  this  heart  and  eyes, 

Are  touch'd,  are  turn'd  to  finest  air. 

The  clouds  are  broken   in  the  sky, 

And  thro'  the  mountain-walls 
A  rolling  organ-harmony 

Swells  up,   and  shakes  and  falls. 
Then  move  the  trees,  the  copses  nod, 

Wings  flutter,   voices  hover  clear  : 
"O  just  and  faithful   knight  of  God! 

Ride  on  !  the  prize  is  near." 
So  pass  I  hostel,   hall,   and  grange  ; 

By  bridge  and  ford,  by  park  and  pale. 
All-arm'd  I  ride,  whate?er  betide, 

Until  I  find  the  Holy  Grail. 
IO2 


Guinevere 


GUINEVERE 

THE  King  raised  to  knighthood  others  to 
fill  the  places  left  vacant  by  the  Holy  Quest, 
but  the  new  knights  were  not  the  old ;  and 
even  some  of  those  who  were  first  to  take 
the  vows  fell  away  from  their  faith  and  their 
loyalty  to  the  King. 

Though  King  Arthur  was  a  "  selfless  man 
and  stainless  gentleman,"  his  character  was  a 
standard  not  too  lofty  for  any  man ;  yet  there 
were  those  of  his  knights  whose  hearts  were 
made  of  baser  stuff,  and  who  complained 
that  the  King  expected  too  much  of  them, 
thus  excusing  to  themselves  their  own  short- 
comings. Some  grew  quickly  tired  of  the 
strict  bonds  in  which  the  oath  of  knighthood 
held  them;  others  waged  long  and  bitter 
103 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

war  with  the  evil  in  their  own  hearts,  to  fail 
at  last;  while  a  few  —  a  very  few — followed 
the  King  to  the  end,  faithful  even  unto 
death. 

Disaffection  crept  among  them  like  a 
silent,  dread  disease,  till  Modred,  Arthur's 
own  nephew,  turned  traitor.  Ambitious, 
keen-eyed,  cruel,  this  Modred  had  long 
planned  to  make  himself  king  in  Arthur's 
stead,  but  had  masked  his  disloyalty  with  a 
fawning  smile,  biding  his  time. 
.  His  opportunity  for  open  revolt  came  with 
the  failure  of  the  Holy  Quest ;  for  many  of 
the  knights  had  come  back  discouraged,  and 
many  had  turned  away.  These  dissatisfied 
ones  Modred  succeeded  in  winning  to  him- 
self, and  he  and  they  allied  themselves  with 
the  heathen.  Hordes  of  these  enemies  to 
the  King  had  been  steadily  gathering  in  the 
North,  while  they  who  might  have  held  them 
back  were  following  wandering  fires. 
104 


Guinevere 


But  the  decay  of  Arthur's  cherished  Order, 
and  the  treachery  of  friends  and  kindred, 
were  not  the  bitterest  of  the  disappoint- 
ments which  came  to  the  blameless  King. 
The  crudest  pang  of  all,  and  the  one  under 
which  his  great  heart  broke,  was  the  faith- 
lessness of  Launcelot  and  Guinevere  —  the 
"knight  whom  Arthur  loved  and  honored 
most,"  and  the  woman  to  whom  he  had 
given  the  whole  of  his  mighty  love  —  the 
two  to  each  of  whom  he  had  declared, 

"  Let  come  what  will,  I  trust  thee  to  the 
death." 

How  it  all  came  to  pass  is  too  sad  a  story 
to  tell ;  but  it  is  something  to  remember  that 
poor  Launcelot  bitterly  repented  his  dis- 
loyalty, and  that  when  he  met  Arthur  face  to 
face  in  battle,  he  stayed  his  hand  and  would 
not  strike  the  King.  In  after  years,  when 
Arthur  had  passed  away,  Launcelot  spent 

his  days   in   a  monastery,   praying   that   he 
105 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

might  meet  the  King  in  "  that  better  world 
that  makes  this  right." 

Guinevere  had  never  loved  the  King. 
Hers  was  a  soul  incapable  of  understanding 
the  height  and  purity  of  his,  and  she  had 
early  tired  of  his  lofty  ideals  and  come  to  look 
for  companionship  elsewhere.  Not  many 
years,  and  the  whole  kingdom  was  agog  with 
tales  of  her  vain  and  foolish  behavior,  and  of 
how  she  did  not  love  King  Arthur. 

Many  are  the  sins  which  the  old  stories 
attribute  to  her,  and  all  who  tell  the  tale 
agree  that  it  was  through  the  folly  and 
wickedness  of  the  Queen  that  the  Round 
Table  knights  were  led  away  from  their  holy 
vows. 

Modred,  the  traitor,  hated  Queen  Guine- 
vere and  had  long  sought  an  opportunity 
to  reveal  her  sins  to  the  King;  for  Arthur 
alone,  in  all  that  land,  trusted  her  faith  and 

loved  her  still. 

106 


GUINEVERE  TAKES  REFUGE  IN  A  CONVENT 


Guinevere 


Now  when  Modred  and  his  heathen  allies 
broke  in  open  revolt  against  the  King,  Queen 
Guinevere  knew  that  the  hour  of  dreaded  dis- 
closure was  at  hand  and,  fearing  the  just 
wrath  of  her  husband,  she  fled  by  night  from 
his  castle  and  took  refuge  in  a  convent  many 
miles  away. 

Here,  while  the  storm  of  battle  was  gather- 
ing, the  Queen  sat  silent  and  wretched,  and 
thought  long  upon  the  sins  that  had  raised 
the  fearful  conflict.  She  seemed  to  read 
scorn  and  reproach  in  every  innocent  thing 
about  her,  and  sorrow  and  remorse  came  and 
made  their  home  in  her  breast.  At  last  one 
sad  day  she  heard  the  tramp  of  mailed  feet 
and  a  cry  "  The  King ! "  ring  along  the  halls. 
Like  one  changed  to  stone  she  sat,  until  the 
familiar  step  was  near  at  hand;  then  falling 
prone  on  the  floor,  she  covered  her  face 
with  her  shadowy  hair  that  she  might  not 

see  the  reproach  of  his  sorrowful  eyes. 
107 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

In  a  voice  "monotonous  and  hollow  like  a 
ghost's  "  the  King  spoke  to  her.  There  was 
no  trace  of  wrath  in  his  tones,  but  his  calm 
and  awful  sorrow  was  worse  than  reproach. 
He  told  her  how  her  sins  had  spoiled  the 
great  purpose  of  his  life,  and  that  through 
her  he  was  going  to  "  that  last  dim  battle  in 
the  West "  to  meet  his  doom,  if  prophecy 
had  spoken  truly. 

"  Thou  hast  not  made  my  life  so  sweet  to 
me  that  I,  the  King,  should  greatly  care  to 
live,"  she  heard  him  say,  and  she  crept  a 
little  nearer  and  clasped  his  feet.  Then, 
gently  still,  he  told  her  he  had  provided  that 
she  should  be  protected  there ;  that  he  would 
leave  to  guard  her  some  of  his  still  faithful 
few,  lest  one  hair  of  her  head  be  harmed. 

"  Let  no  man  dream  but  that  I  love  thee 
still,"  he  said.  "  And  if  thou  purify  thy  soul, 
hereafter  in  that  world  where  all  are  pure 

we  two  may  meet  before  high    God.     Lo! 
108 


Guinevere 


I    forgive    thee    as    Eternal    God    forgives. 
Farewell." 

With  face  still  covered  she  heard  his  steps 
retire,  but  when  he  was  gone,  she  stole  to 
the  casement  and  watched  him  ride  away  to 
meet  his  doom.  Then  suddenly  stretching 
out  her  white  arms  to  him  she  cried, 

"  O,  Arthur!  Gone,  my  lord?  Gone 
through  my  sin  to  slay  and  to  be  slain ! " 

Who  shall  measure  the  despair  of  that 
heart  which  too  late  realizes  that  what  it  has 
lost  is  its  all  in  all !  Arthur  had  gone  to  his 
doom,  and  nothing  was  left  to  the  poor 
Queen  but  the  knowledge  that  she  loved  him, 
now  when  her  love  was  of  no  avail.  Never 
until  that  moment  in  which  he  forgave  her 
grievous  sins,  did  she  know  him  for  what  he 
was  —  "  the  highest  and  most  human  too." 

"  We  needs  must  love  the  highest  when 
we  see  it,"  she  told  her  aching  heart  —  but 
Arthur  was  gone,  and  he  did  not  know. 
109 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

Then  in  the  keenness  of  her  despair  she 
remembered  the  one  hope  he  had  given  her 
—  that  some  day  they  might  meet  again ; 
but  she  knew  full  well  that  that  could  never 
be  until  she  had  grown  worthy  of  him. 

So  through  the  sad  years  which  followed, 
she  strove  and  worked  and  prayed,  to  shrive 
her  soul  of  sin ;  and  in  the  fullness  of  time 
she  died,  and  passed  into  that  better  country 
to  which  'the  love  of  the  highest'  leads. 


no 


The  Passing  of  Arthur 


THE  PASSING  OF  ARTHUR 

WHEN  King  Arthur  had  bidden  farewell 
to  the  Queen  at  the  Convent  of  Almesbury, 
he  joined  the  main  body  of  his  faithful  follow- 
ers, and  moved  on  towards  the  west  to  meet 
the  traitor  forces. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  day's  march,  the 
Round  Table  knights  halted  and  pitched 
their  tents  for  a  night's  rest.  While  the 
army  slept,  the  bold  Sir  Bedivere,  "the  first 
of  all  his  knights  knighted  by  Arthur  at  his 
crowning,"  moved  quietly  among  the  slum- 
bering hosts,  unable  himself  to  rest;  and  as 
he  slowly  paced,  he  heard  the  restless  moan- 
ings  of  the  unhappy  King :  — 

"  I  found  Him  in  the  shining  of  the  stars, 

I  marked  Him  in  the  flowering  of  His  fields, 
in 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

but  in  His. ways  with  men  I  find  Him  not!" 
and  again  — 

"  Nay  —  God  my  Christ  —  I  pass  but  shall 
not  die ! " 

At  last,  wearied  out,  King  Arthur  slept; 
and  in  his  sleep  there  came  to  him  the  ghost 
of  Gawain,  lightly  blown  along  the  wind. 
As  the  frail  phantom  passed,  it  cried  to  him, 

"  Hail,  King !  To-morrow  thou  shalt  pass 
away.  Farewell !  There  is  an  isle  of  rest  for 
thee,  and  I  am  blown  along  a  wandering 
wind." 

The  King  waked  with  a  start,  crying, 

"  Who  spake  ?  Thine,  Gawain,  was  the 
voice ! "  And  Sir  Bedivere,  being  near, 
answered, 

"  My  King,  let  pass  whatever  will,  elves 
and  the  harmless  glamour  of  the  field,  as  yet 
thou  shalt  not  pass  " ;  and  he  entreated  King 
Arthur  to  throw  off  the  melancholy  spirit 

that  possessed  him,  saying  that  they  were 
112 


Tlie  Passing  of  Arthur 


now  hard  upon  the  traitor  Modred  and  the 
faithless  knights. 

"  Arise,  go  forth,  and  conquer  as  of  old," 
he  cried  to  his  beloved  lord. 

But  the  King  answered  him,  saying, 

"  Far  other  is  this  battle  whereto  we  move, 
than  when  we  strove  in  youth,  and  brake 
the  petty  kings,  and  fought  with  Rome.  Ill 
doom  is  mine  to  war  against  my  people  and 
my  knights.  The  king  .who  fights  his  peo- 
ple fights  himself.  The  stroke  that  strikes 
them  dead  is  as  my  death  to  me." 

Then,  though  sorrowing  deeply,  the  King 
arose  and  moved  his  hosts  while  yet  it  was 
night.  He  pushed  the  forces  of  Modred, 
league  by  league,  back  to  the  western  boun- 
dary of  Lyonesse.  Here  the  long  mountains 
ended  in  a  coast  of  shifting  sand,  and  beyond 
this  was  the  ever  restless  sea. 

The  traitors  were  at  last  at  bay:  there 
on  the  waste  sands  by  the  sea-shore,  the 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

Round  Table  knights  closed  with  them  in 
that  last  "  weird  battle  of  the  West." 

As  they  fought,  a  death-white  mist  came 
down  upon  the  sea  and  land,  and  confusion 
fell  upon  the  struggling  forces,  so  that  no 
man  beheld  whom  he  smote. 

"  Friend  and  foe  were  shadows  in  the 
mist,  and  friend  slew  friend,  not  knowing 
whom  he  slew."  Weird  indeed  was  that 
last  battle,  and  the  hosts  that  waged  it 
were  as  men  possessed.  Some,  as  they 
fought,  were  haunted  by  visions  of  golden 
youth,  while  others  met  the  faces  of  old 
ghosts  upon  the  battlefield. 

All  the  long  day  the  swaying  forces  strug- 
gled, and  many  were  the  base  deeds  done, 
and  many  the  knightly  ones.  When  even- 
ing descended,  a  dread  hush  fell  upon  the 
scene  of  battle,  and  a  bitter  wind  came  out 
of  the  north  and  lifted  the  mist  from  the 

field  of  conflict. 

114 


The  Passing  of  Arthur 


And  lo !  the  scene  of  blood  was  seem- 
ingly deserted,  save  by  the  wounded,  the 
dying,  and  the  dead,  and  by  King  Arthur 
and  one  faithful  knight.  Sir  Bedivere  was 
with  him  still  —  Sir  Bedivere,  the  first  at 
Arthur's  feet  for  knighthood,  and  the  last 
at  his  side  in  battle  in  fulfillment  of  his 
vows. 

When  the  King  beheld  his  loyal  follower, 
he  cried  to  him, 

"O  Bedivere,  —  on  my  heart  hath  fallen 
confusion,  till  I  know  not  what  I  am,  nor 
whence  I  am,  nor  whether  I  be  king. 
Behold,  I  seem  but  king  among  the  dead." 
And  the  bold  Sir  Bedivere  answered, 

"  If  the  dead  have  kings,  there  also  will  I 
worship  thee.  But  still  thy  life  is  whole,  and 
still  I  live  who  love  thee."  Then  he  pointed 
King  Arthur  to  where,  among  the  dead  and 
dying,  the  traitor  Modred  stood,  unharmed. 
At  sight  of  his  false  kinsman  and  bitter  foe, 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

the  King  was  stirred  by  a  mighty  wrath,  and 
grasping  Excalibur,  he  cried  to  his  faithful 
knight, 

"  King  am  I,  whatsoever  be  their  cry ;  and 
one  last  act  of  kinghood  shalt  thou  see  yet, 
ere  I  pass."  So  saying,  like  a  lion  roused, 
he  rushed  upon  the  traitor. 

Modred  had  seen  and  was  ready  for  the 
coming  shock;  and  he  dealt  Arthur  several 
grievous  wounds  upon  the  head.  But  with 
one  last  and  mighty  stroke  of  Excalibur  the 
King  laid  the  rebel  dead  at  his  feet,  then 
himself  fell  fainting  from  the  wounds  he 
had  received.  Then  was  the  good  Sir  Bedi- 
vere  sore  troubled.  He  lifted  the  wounded 
King  tenderly,  and  bare  him  to  a  chapel 
hard  by  the  field  of  battle.  There  in  the 
moonlight,  at  the  foot  of  a  broken  cross,  he 
gently  laid  him  down  and  ministered  unto 
him.  At  length  Arthur,  opening  his  blue 

eyes,  said, 

116 


The  Passing  of  Arthur 


"  The  sequel  of  to-day  unsolders  all  the  good- 
liest fellowship  of  famous  knights  whereof 
this  world  holds  record.  Such  a  sleep  they 
sleep  —  the  men  I  loved  — "  and  a  little 
later  still  he  whispered,  "  I  -perish  by  this 
people  which  I  made." 

Then  summoning  his  strength  with  an 
effort,  he  talked  to  the  sorrowful  Bedivere  at 
length.  He  reminded  his  faithful  knight  of 
Merlin's  prophecy,  which  said  that  the  King 
would  not  die  but  would  pass  away  to  come 
again.  He  gazed  at  his  good  sword  Excali- 
bur  and  minded  him  of  the  words  of  the  seer, 
spoken  to  his  restless  youth : 

"Take  thou  and  strike;  the  time  to  cast 
away  is  yet  far  off."  He  had  taken  and  had 
stricken  well,  —  not  one  stroke  for  his  own 
glory,  but  all  for  the  glory  of  his  Master, 
Christ.  But  the  time  to  cast  away  was 
now  at  hand;  and  knowing  this,  he  told 

Sir  Bedivere, 

117 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

"  Thou  take  my  brand,  Excalibur,  and  fling 
him  far  into  the  middle  mere:  watch  what 
thou  seest  and  lightly  bring  me  word." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  answered  him,  saying, 

"  It  is  not  meet,  Sir  King,  to  leave  thee 
thus,  aidless,  alone;  yet  I  thy  hest  will  all 
perform  at  full,  watch  what  I  see,  and  lightly 
bring  thee  word." 

With  this  promise  on  his  lips,  Sir  Bedivere 
took  Excalibur  and  bare  it  as  he  was  bidden 
to  the  side  of  the  lake ;  but  as  he  paused  by 
the  margin,  the  full  moonlight  fell  upon  the 
jeweled  hilt,  causing  its  gems  to  sparkle  with 
a  thousand  dyes.  The  old  knight  gazed  long 
and  wistfully  at  the  jewels,  till  their  brilliance 
dazzled  his  eyes  and  dulled  his  purpose.  He 
could  not  bring  himself  to  throw  away  such 
wealth ;  so  he  bethought  him  that  he  would 
conceal  the  brand  among  the  many-knotted 
water-flags,  and  bear  a  false  report  to  the 

King. 

118 


The  Passing  of  Arthur 


"  Hast  thou  performed  my  mission  which 
I  gave  ?  What  is  it  thou  hast  seen,  or  what 
hast  heard  ? "  the  King  asked  of  him  when 
he  returned.  And  the  knight  replied, 

"  I  heard  the  ripple  washing  in  the  reeds, 
and  the  wild  water  lapping  on  the  crag." 
King  Arthur,  pale  and  faint,  exclaimed, 

"  Thou  hast  betrayed  thy  nature  and  thy 
name,  not  rendering  true  answer  like  a  noble 
knight.  Yet  now,  I  charge  thee,  quickly  go 
again,  and  do  the  thing  I  bade  thee." 

Then  went  the  knight  a  second  time  to 
the  side  of  the  mere,  but  temptation  came 
again  into  his  heart.  This  time  it  was  not 
the  lust  of  wealth  that  stayed  his  hand  from 
flinging  Excalibur.  He  minded  him  of  the 
great  King  now  about  to  pass  away,  and  of 
all  the  mighty  deeds  of  arms  of  the  Round 
Table  knights ;  and  he  felt  that  relics  of  the 
noble  Arthur  would  be  an  inspiration  to  men 

in  coming  ages.     He  fondly  pictured  to  him- 
119 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

self  how  the  mighty  brand,  if  he  preserved  it, 
would  hang  in  some  treasure-house  in  after 
times,  and  how  men  would  wondering,  say, 

"  King  Arthur's  sword,  Excalibur,  wrought 
by  the  lonely  maiden  of  the  Lake." 

"  The  King  is  sick  and  knows  not  what  he 
does,"  he  said  to  excuse  himself;  so  he  hid 
the  blade  a  second  time,  and  strode  slowly 
back  to  the  wounded  King.  Then  Arthur 
spake : 

"  What  is  it  thou  hast  seen  ?  or  what  hast 
heard  ?  "  And  Sir  Bedivere  answered, 

"  I  heard  the  water  lapping  on  the  crag,  and 
the  long  ripple  washing  in  the  reeds."  Hear- 
ing this  the  King  was  wroth  indeed,  and  his 
eyes  flashed  with  their  wonted  fire  as  he  cried, 

"Ah  miserable  and  unkind,  untrue,  un- 
knightly,  traitor-hearted !  Woe  is  me !  Au- 
thority forgets  a  dying  king !  " 

In  his  deep  anger  he  accused  Sir  Bedi- 
vere of  wishing  to  keep  the  sword  for  the 
1 20 


The  Passing  of  Arthur 


sake  of  its  precious  hilt.  Then  softening 
a  little,  he  said  to  the  knight  that  a  man 
might  fail  in  duty  twice,  and  the  third  time 
prove  faithful. 

"  Get  thee  hence,"  he  cried,  his  eyes  kin- 
dling again,  "but,  if  thou  spare  to  fling 
Excalibur,  I  will  arise  and  slay  thee  with 
my  hands." 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  arose  quickly  and  ran 
leaping  down  the  rocks  to  the  water's  edge. 
He  snatched  Excalibur  from  where  it  lay 
among  the  rushes,  and  shutting  his  eyes  that 
he  might  not  again  be  tempted,  he  wheeled 
it  and  threw  it  far  into  the  middle  mere. 

And  lo !  as  the  brand  left  his  hand,  it 
flashed  through  the  air  like  a  streamer  of 
light  from  the  great  Aurora  of  the  North. 
But  ere  it  dipped  the  wave  in  falling,  a 
mighty  arm  rose  out  of  the  bosom  of  the 
lake,  clothed  in  white  samite  —  mystic,  won- 
derful, —  grasped  the  blade  by  the  hilt, 
121 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

brandished  it  three  times,  and  drew  it  under 
in  the  mere. 

Then  went  Sir  Bedivere  back  and  told  the 
King  the  mighty  wonders  he  had  seen. 
King  Arthur  heard  and  believed,  and  he 
said  to  the  knight, 

"  My  end  draws  nigh ;  't  is  time  that  I 
were  gone.  Make  broad  thy  shoulders  to 
receive  my  weight,  and  bear  me  to  the 
margin."  His  strength  was  fast  failing, 
but  he  half  raised  himself  from  the  pave- 
ment, that  the  old  knight  might  the  better 
clasp  him. 

When  Sir  Bedivere  looked  into  the  wistful 
blue  eyes,  his  own  filled  with  remorseful 
tears;  and  he  knelt  down  and  received  the 
weight  of  his  master,  and  bore  him  tenderly 
from  the  place  of  tombs.  Down  the  long 
rocky  coast  he  strode  with  his  burden,  and 
ever  and  anon  King  Arthur  whispered, 

"  Quick,  quick,  I  fear  it  is  too  late !  " 
122 


SIR   BEDIVERE  THROWS  EXCALIBUR  INTO  THE  MERE 


T/te  Passing  of  Arthur 


At  last  they  reached  the  lake-side.  The 
winter  moon  shone  out  in  full  glory,  and 
they  beheld,  far  in  the  silvery  distance,  a 
dusky  barge  heaving  toward  them.  As  it 
nearer  came,  they  saw  that  it  was  "  dark  as  a 
funeral  scarf  from  stem  to  stern,"  and  that 
its  decks  were  crowded  with  stately  forms, 
"  black-stoled,  black-hooded,  like  a  dream." 

Nearer  still  it  came ;  and  lo !  among  its 
spectre  band  were  the  three  fair  queens  who 
ever  came  to  Arthur  at  his  need.  The 
vessel  touched  the  shore  and  the  King  said, 

"  Place  me  in  the  barge." 

Wondering,  the  bold  Sir  Bedivere  did  as 
he  was  bid,  and  the  three  fair  queens  put 
forth  their  hands  and  received  the  wounded 
King.  Then  the  tallest  and  fairest  of  the 
three  took  his  head  in  her  lap  and  unbound 
his  casque.  They  chafed  his  hands  and 
called  him  by  his  name,  and  they  wept  and 
bathed  his  white  face  with  bitter  tears. 
123 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

"  So  like  a  shattered  column  lay  the  King  ; 
Not  like  that  Arthur  who,  with  lance  in  rest, 
From  spur  to  plume  a  star  of  tournament, 
Shot  through  the  lists  at  Camelot,  and  charged 
Before  the  eyes  of  ladies  and  of  kings." 

The  barge  put  off  from  shore,  and  the 
heart-broken  Bedivere  cried  to  his  departing 
lord, 

"Ah!  my  lord  Arthur,  whither  shall 
I  go?  Now  I  see  the  true  old  times  are 
dead,  when  every  morning  brought  a  noble 
chance,  and  every  chance  brought  out  a 
noble  knight."  Arthur  answered  slowly  from 
the  barge, 

"  The  old  order  changeth,  yielding  place 
to  new,  and  God  fulfills  Himself  in  many 
ways."  And  he  told  his  sorrowing  knight 
that  he  was  going  on  a  long  journey  to  the 
happy  island  of  Avilion,  where  falls  not  hail 
nor  rain  nor  snow,  nor  ever  wind  blows 

loudly — where,  among  deep  meadows  and 
124 


The  Passing  of  Arthur 


fair  orchard  lawns,  he  would  be  healed  of  his 
grievous  wound. 

Then  the  barge  moved  off  into  the  night, 
leaving  the  sad  Sir  Bedivere  to  follow  its 
course  with  aching  eyes.  Long  he  stood 
there,  revolving  in  his  mind  memories  of  the 
dead  past ;  till  at  last  the  east  began  to  lighten 
and  the  barge  became  but  a  speck  against 
the  rim  of  coming  dawn. 

"  The  King  is  gone !  "  he  groaned.  But 
hark  !  Across  the  waters  from  the  utmost 
east  there  came  sounds  "as  if  some  fair 
city  were  one  voice  around  a  king  returning 
from  his  wars."  And  straining  his  eyes  yet 
farther,  Sir  Bedivere  watched  the  lessening 
speck  till  it  vanished  into  light,  to  cast 
anchor  on  the  shining  shore  of  Avilion. 

Thus  Arthur  passed  away  from  the  scenes 
of  earth  —  to  come  again  in  the  hearts  of 
happier  men  in  better  times;  for  there  's  never 

a  triumph  of  right  over  wrong-doing,  never 
125 


King  Arthur  and  His  Court 

an  act  of  gentleness  or  courtesy  or  manly 
daring,  but  in  itself  fulfills  something  of  the 
great  King's  prophecy: 

"  I  pass,  but  shall  not  die  !  " 

"' Arthur  is  come  again;  he  cannot  die.' 
Then  those  that  stood  upon  the  hills  behind 
Repeated  —  '  Come  again,  and  thrice  as  fair  ' ; 
And,  further  inland,  voices  echoed — 'Come, 
With  all  good  things,  and  war  shall  be  no  more.' 
At  this  a  hundred  bells  began  to  peal, 
That  with  the  sound  I  woke,  and  heard  indeed 
The  clear  church-bells  ring  in  the  Christmas  morn.' 


126 


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FEB  14  1933 
AUG  121935 


REC'D  LD 

11962 


201938   REB    8197064 


A 


REC'D  LD 

FEB  2  3  1961 


LD  21-50m-l,'3 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  JtffcRARY 


